PETROLE 


!N- 


SOUTHEEN  CAUFOi^ 


ISSUED   BY 


MiR)RKrA'^ATE  mmm  buriai 


>  ^k*!^^' 


COMPLIMENTS  OF 

F-  McN.  HAMILTON 

oT*re   MINERALOGIST 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


BULLETIN  63. 


PETROLEUM 


IN 


SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA 


1913 


COMPILED  BY 

PAUL  W.  PRUTZMAN 


ISSUED  BY 

CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 

F.  McN.  HAMILTON 
State  Mineralogist 


Priend  Wm,  Richaedson,  Superintendent  of  State  Printing 

sacramento,  california 

1913 

UBRARY 

WKVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAV13 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU. 

Feery  Building,  Sax  Francisco. 
F.  McN.  HAMILTON State  Mineralogist- 

BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES. 

CALVERT  WILSON.  Los  Angeles President 

HENRY  E.  MONROE.  Sau  Francisco Secretarjr 

E.  C.  HUTCHINSON.  San  Francisco 
JOHN  G.  FLETCHER.  Oakland. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


To  his  Excellency,  the  Hon.  Hiram  W.  Johnson,  Governor  of  the  State 
of  California  and  the  HonoraUe  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  State 
Mining  Bureau. 

Gentlemen  : 

I  herewith  submit  Bulletin  63,  "Petroleum  in  Southern  California." 

The  material  of  this  publication  has  been  gathered  and  compiled  by 

Paul  W.  Prutzman.     Although  there  has  been  considerable  delay  in  its 

completion,   I  think  it  will  be  found  a  valuable  publication  to  the 

industry. 

Respectfully  yours, 

F.  McN.  HAMILTON. 

State  Mineralogist. 
February  17.  1913. 


FIGURE    1 
SKETCH  MAP  OF 

SOUTHERN     CALIFORNIA. 

INDEX    TO  OIL   FIELDS 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Chapter 
Chapter 


Chapter 
Chapter 


Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 


VIII. 
IX. 
X. 


Page. 

Descriptive,    Topography    and    Climate 1 

Oil  Developments 4 

Methods    of    Oil    Analysis 8 

Source  and  Classification  of  Analyses 12 

Gravity    Readings 13 

Sulfur     Determinations 13 

Distillation    Tests 14 

Pirie,  Sulphur  Mountain  and  Ojai  "Wells 21 

Ventura    County,    Topography    and    Climate 21 

Subdivisions  of  County 23 

Wells  West  of  Ventura   River 26 

Pirie    Wells 27 

Wells  in  Ventuia  River  Valley 33 

Sulphur  Mountain  Wells 34 

Lj-on   Canon   Wells 40 

Ojai     Wells 41 

Analyses    of    Ojai    Oils 46 

Ex-Mission,   Silverthread  and  Empire  Wells 50 

Ex-Mission     "Wells 51 

Analyses   of  Ex-Mission   Oils 57 

Silverthread  or  Sisar  Wells 74 

Analyses   of    Silverthread    Oils 80 

O'Hara  or  Paula  Wells -  —  ^ 85 

Scattering  Wells  in  Santa  Paula  Creek 86 

Empire  or  Loma  Wells 88 

Analyses  of  Paula  Oils 89 

Sespe  and  Hopper  Canon  Wells 91 

Structure    of    Sespe    Country 91 

Big  Sespe  Wells 92 

Little  Sespe — Tar  Creek  Group 95 

Tabulation  of  Tar  Creek  Wells 98 

Wells  North  of  Tar  Creek 101 

Wells   East   and   South   of   Tar   Creek 101 

Analyses  of  Sespe-Tar  Creek  Oils 104 

Hopper     Canon     "U'ells 117 

Analyses    Hopper    Canon    Oils 119 

Bardsdale     Wells 123 

Analyses    of    Bardsdale    Oils 127 

Modelo,    Torrey,   Eureka  and   Tapo   Wells 133 

Modelo   and    Temescal   Wells 133 

Eureka     Wells 137 

Tapo    Wells 138 

Torrey    Wells 140 

Simi     Wells 141 

Analyses  of  Modelo.  Torrey  and  Tapo  Oils 142 

Calleguas    Wells 152 

Summary  of  Operations  in  Ventura  County 153 

Los    Angeles    County 156 

Newhall     Field 156 

Castaic  Wells 158 

Pico    Wells 159 

Tabulation   of   Pico   Wells 160 

DeWitt  Canon  Wells 166 

Towsley   Canon   Wells 167 

Wiley    Caiion    Wells '_ 168 

Rice  and  East  Caiion  Wells 169 

Leaming,  Elsmere  and  Newhall  Caiion  Wells 170 

"^"ells  on   South  Slope   of  San  Fernando  Mountains 176 

Placerita    Canon    Wells . 177 

Wells   North   of   Soledad   Caiion 178 

Tujunga    Wells 179 


sc 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Chapter 
Chapter 


Chapter 
Chapter 


Chapter 
Chapter 
Chapter 


VIII. 

IX. 

X. 


Page. 

Descriptive,    Topography    and    Climate 1 

Oil  Developments 4 

Methods    of    Oil    Analysis . 8 

Source  and  Classification  of  Analyses 12 

Gravity    Readings 13 

Sulfur     Determinations 13 

Distillation    Tests 14 

Pirie,  Sulphur  Mountain  and  Ojai  Wells 21 

Ventura    County,    Topography    and    Climate 21 

Subdivisions  of  County 23 

Wells  West  of  Ventura   River 26 

Pirie    Wells 27 

Wells  in  Ventuia  River  Valley 33 

Sulphur  Mountain  Wells 34 

Lyon    Caiion   Wells 40 

Ojai     Wells 41 

Analyses    of    Ojai    Oils 46 

Ex-Mission,   Silverthread  and  Empire  Wells 50 

Ex-Mission     Wells 51 

Analyses   of  Ex-Mission   Oils 57 

Silverthread  or  Sisar  Wells 74 

Analyses    of    Silverthread    Oils 80 

O'Hara  or  Paula  Wells -— ^ 85 

Scattering  Wells  in  Santa  Paula  Creek 86 

Empire  or  Loma  Wells 88 

Analyses  of  Paula  Oils 89 

Sespe  and  Hopper  Canon  Wells 91 

Structuie    of    Sespe    Country 91 

Big   Sespe  Wells 92 

Little   Sespe — Tar  Creek  Group 95 

Tabulation  of  Tar  Creek  Wells 98 

Wells  North  of  Tar  Creek 101 

Wells    East   and   South   of   Tar   Creek 101 

Analyses  of  Sespe-Tar  Creek  Oils 104 

Hopper     Caiion     Wells 117 

Analyses    Hopper   Caiion    Oils 119 

Bardsdale     Wells 123 

Analyses    of    Bardsdale    Oils 127 

Modelo,    Torrey,    Eureka  and  Tapo   Wells 133 

Modelo    and    Temescal   Wells 133 

Eureka     Wells 137 

Tapo    Wells 138 

Torrey    Wells 140 

Simi     TV^ells 141 

Analyses  of  Modelo.  Torrey  and  Tapo  Oils 142 

Calleguas    Wells 152 

Summary  of  Operations  in  Ventura  County 153 

Los    Angeles    County 156 

Newhall     Field 156 

Castaic  Wells 158 

Pico    Wells 159 

Tabulation   of   Pico   Wells 160 

DeWitt  Caiion  Wells 166 

Towsley   Canon   Wells 167 

Wiley    Canon    Wells '_ 168 

Rice  and  East  Caiion  Wells 169 

Learning,  Elsmere  and  Newhall  Caiion  Wells 170 

Wells  on   South  Slope  of   San  Fernando  Mountains 176 

Placerita    Canon    Wells 177 

Wells   North   of   Soledad   Canon 178 

Tujunga    Wells 179 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  X. — Con 


Chapter       XII. 


Chapter      XIII. 


Chapter 

XIV. 

Chapter 

XV. 

Chapter 

XVI. 

Chapter    XVII. 


Chapter  XVIII. 


Chapter      XXI. 


tinned.  PAGE. 

Recapitulation  of  Newhall  Operations 181 

Analyses   of   Newhall   Oils 182 

Los   Angeles   City   Field 195 

East  Los  Angeles  Wells 197 

East     Field 198 

Central  or  Old  Field 201 

West  Field 203 

Western    Avenue    Wells 205 

Analyses    of    City    Oils 206 

Salt  Lake  or  Sherman  Field 216 

Development  and  Limits  of  Field 226 

Statistics  of  Salt  Lake  Field 227 

Wells   South  of  Wilshire  Boulevard 228 

Wells  in  Beverly  Hills 1 233 

Analyses  of  Salt  Lake  Oils 234 

Puente    Hills   Group 247 

Whittier    Field 248 

Recapitulation   of   Whittier   Operations 259 

Analyses    of    Whittier    Oils 261 

Coyote  and  Anaheim   Wells 274 

Analyses  of  Coyote  and  Anaheim  Oils 278 

Puente    Wells *  280 

Analyses  of  Puente   Oils 286 

Fullerton     Field 294 

Brea    Canon    Wells 296 

Olinda    Wells 299 

Analyses  of  Brea-Canon  and  Fullerton  Oils 308 

Scattering  Wells  in  Los  Angeles,  Orange  and  San  Bernardino 

Counties 326 

Lancaster    Wells 326 

Calabasas  and   Redondo    Wells 327 

San    Pedro    Wells 328 

Long  Beach  Wells 329 

Wells  north  of  Los  Angeles  City 329 

Wells   south  of  Los  Angeles   City 331 

Compton    Wells 332 

Rapetto    Hills    Wells 333 

Chino  Valley  Wells 335 

Santa  Ana   and   Newport   Wells 335 

Orange   County   Wells 334 

Laguna  Beach   and   Capistrano  Wells 337 

San   Bernardino   County,   Chino  Wells 337 

Santa   Barbara   County ; 339 

Casmalia    Group 341 

Santa  Ynez  Group__ 343 

Lompoc   or    Purissima   Group 345 

Analysis  Lompoc  Oil 351 

Santa   Maria   or   Old   Field 352 

Productiveness  of  Santa  Maria   Wells 366 

Analyses  of  Santa  Maria  Oils 377 

Cat    Canon    Wells 379 

Operating  Conditions  in  Cat  Caiion 387 

Extent  of  Cat  Caiion  Field 389 

Analyses   of   Cat   Canon    Oils 391 

Santa    Barbara    Coast , 396 

Indications  of  Oil  on  Coast 397 

Wells  between  Naples  and  Santa  Barbara 399 

Wells  between   Santa  Barbara  and  Rincon  Creek 401 

Probable  structure  of  the  Coast  Strip 404 

Wells  in  Rincon  Creek 406 

Wells   in    Santa   Ynez   Foothills 407 

Summerland   Wells ' 408 

Analyses   Summerland  Oils 413 

Analyses   Empire   Oils 416 


CONTENTS. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

Fullerton  Oil  Field,  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  Counties ^'°"'5'o!2? 

Pirie  Ranch,  Ventura  County I__I_I_~_I_I-I   20-21 

City   of  Ventura   -"' 124-25 

Ventura  River,   looking  north -— "7_,  ,       "  24-25 

Exposure  of  bituminized  shales,  Ventura  County IIIIIiriIII_-90-91 

Looking  north   in   Little   Sespe " ^O-^i 

Looking  north  on  Little  Sespe  Ridge -      'gg-gg 

Sespe,  looking  northeast  on  Four  Forks  Claim IHIIIIII   _1  ___98-99 

Upper   Sespe,    Ventura   County   """"I  ~     '   i'?2_1<{'? 

Tu>.„tv,  nf  T(^rr,i><,oa\  Creek    north  of  Piru,  Ventura  County ^'^'^  ^^^ 

Venical  st^r  at'LTe'of'Torrey  formation,  Eureka  Caflon,  Ventura  County__13  - 

Contorted  strata.  Eureka  Cafion,  Ventura  County uO-lVl 

Looking  up   Eureka   Canon   toward  Tapo  Wells 140-141 

Torrey  Canon,  Ventura  County """"""."" """"*"       ~  '  It;8-1«i9 

Looking  up  Castaic  Canon  from  above  New  Castaic  location 158  159 

Anticlinal  fold  in  Charley  Cafion.  Los  Angeles  County iTo-rH 

Pico  Canon,  Newhall,  Los  Angeles  County 170-171 

Wells  in  Newhall  Canon,  Newhall,  Los  Angeles  County IJJJJ^ 

Soledad   Canon,   Los   Angeles   County 200-201 

Portion  of  East  Field,  Los  Angeles  City ^   - 216-217 

La  Brea  Lease,   Salt   Lake   Oil  Field 916-217 

Pitch  Lake,   Rancho   La  Brea.    Los   Angeles   County   948-249 

Town  of  Whittier,  from  Commonwealth  Lease -    948-249 

North-dipping  strata,  north  slope  of  Whittier  mam  anticline  -—--—- -^=  ^Js 

Whittier  ?rude  and  Home  Wells.  Whittier  Oil  Field,  Los  Angeles  County  — -252--^^ 

Ppntr-il   No    49    on   apex  of  Whittier  anticline 

Soking  southeast  from  Zaoa  Pass  over  Zaca  Valley  and  Santa  Tnez  Moun-    ^^^_^^^ 

tains.    Santa  Barbara  County -—— •544-345 

Asphalt  refineries  at  Hadley,   San  Luis  Obispo  County 352-353 

Northeast  from   Folsom  Lease,    Santa  Maria 352-353 

Radium,    Brookshire   and   Pinal   Leases    Z^''-''^-^'^^  i^  qf;fi-^^7 

Dome,  Hobtas   (Union)    and  Rice  Ranch  Leases,   Santa  Maria  OH  Field 356  35^ 

Hills  south  of  Zaca  Valley.   Santa   Barbara  County       _---.--- Qr;8_359 

FOX  and  Hobbs  Leases,  Union  Oil  Company.  San  Maria  OH  Field 35^8  359 

Looking  east  on  Newlove   Tract.    Santa  Maria __378-379 

Cat  Canon  Oil  Field.   Santa  Barbara  County III"III___384-385 

An  oil  reservoir.  Cat  Canon  Field 384-385 

Palmer  and  Dome  Wells,   Cat  Cafion 408-409 

Wells  on  Summerland  Beach,  Santa  Barbara  County ^408-409 

Summerland  Wells,  from  K.  T.  &  O.  Wharf 

MAPS. 

In  pocket  at  back  of  book. 


ERRATUM. 

Page     10,   line  two  should  read,   "out  in  practice,  and  to  learn  the  difficulties,   if  an> 

lying  in  the  way" 
Page  105,  No.   5469,  in  commercial  analysis,  per  cent  asphalt  .should  be  40.7. 
Page  137,  line  7,  date  should  be  1910  instead  of  1900. 
Page  182,  No.   4481  should  be  No.   5484. 

Page  184,  No.  5484  should  be  No.  7444.      tAnalysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 
Page  186,  No.  7444  should  be  No.  4412.      tAnalysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
Page  191,  No.   4412   should  be  No.   2462. 
Page  192,  No.   2462  should  be  No.   54  82. 

Pages  217  to  245,  title  at  top  of  page  should  read  Field  instead  of  Island. 
Page  220,  Fig.   28,  Cross  Section  Salt  Lake  Field. 

Page  221,  all  after  the  word  "southwest"  in  lines  18  and  19  should  be  omitted. 
Page  249,  Fig.  29,  Cross  Section  Whittier  Oil  Field. 
Page  278,  No.  6468.  in  commercial  analysis,  per  cent  kerosene  should  be  7.0.  not  13. 6 


THE  STATE  OF  CALIEORNIA. 


CHAPTER  T. 

DESCRIPTIVE. 

The  State  of  California. 

The  great  State  of  California  divides  itself  naturally  into  five  areas, 
differing  materially  in  geology,  climate,  and  resources.  These  divi- 
sions may  be  described  as — the  eastern  Desert  Region,  the  great  Central 
Valley,  the  Coast  Valley  section,  the  Coast  country  proper,  and  South- 
ern California,  or  California  south  of  the  Tehachapi.  While  the  latter 
alone  forms  the  proper  subject  of  the  present  report,  certain  exigencies 
of  the  case  require  the  inclusion  of  portions  of  two  other  divisions,  and 
a  word  as  to  the  principal  features  of  each  area  may  be  permissible. 
The  Desert  Region. 

The  most  easterly  division  is  that  arid  region  lying  east  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  and  the  San  Bernardino  mountains,  and  extending  a  westerly 
arm  almost  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  between  the  Tehachapi  and  San 
Gabriel  ranges.  This  division  is  characterized  geologically  by  the  evi- 
dences, in  almost  every  part,  of  rather  late  volcanic  and  of  lacustrine 
conditions.  Topographically  it  is  a  high  table-land,  of  sandy  plains, 
with  scattered  and  very  prominent  mountain  ranges,  while  in  point 
of  climate  it  is  distinguished  by  extreme  heat  and  desiccation.  The 
application  of  the  term  "desert"  to  this  region  is,  in  large  part,  due 
to  the  lack  of  water,  as,  where  irrigation  is  possible,  the  soil,  light 
though  it  may  appear,  proves  highly  productive. 

Petroleum  has  been  sought  in  several  parts  of  this  desert  area,  but 
so  far  without  success. 
The  Great  Central  Valley. 

Lying  between  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  the  Coast  Range,  and  extend- 
ing from  the  Tehachapis  almost,  or  quite,  to  the  Oregon  line,  is  the 
central  or  interior  valley,  made  up  of  the  drainage  basins  of  the  Sac- 
ramento and  San  Joaquin  rivers,  which  unite  as  they  enter  San  Fran- 
cisco Bay.  This  great  basin,  averaging  perhaps  a  hundred  miles  in 
width,  and  upwards  of  four  hundred  miles  long,  is  characterized  geo- 
logically in  consisting,  in  its  bed,  of  late  marine  sediments  and  river 
silt,  and  on  its  flanks  of  marine  sediments  mainly  of  Tertiary  age, 
though  abutting  on  a  region  of  great  lava  flows  on  its  northeastern 
extremity.  Topographically  it  is  strongly  characterized  by  its  perfect 
basin  form,  the  entire  width  of  the  valley,  from  its  northern  to  its 
southern  termination,  sloping  gently  to  one  point,  and  being  free  from 
2—63 


2  I'ETROLEUM   liC    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

any  iut(?rr'ilpti6ii  by"  hills' or*' mdtintains,  excepting,  of  course,  where  it 
merges  into  tlie  mountains  which  fix  its  bounds.  The  climate  is  also 
characteristic,  being  hot  and  perfectly  dry  in  summer,  mild  in  winter, 
with  a  rainfall  varying  from  heavy  at  the  northern  end  to  very  light 
at  the  southern.  Having  a  highly  fertile  soil  throughout,  and  an  ample 
supply  of  water  on  its  eastern  side,  this  and  the  central  portion  of  the 
valley  are  extensively  irrigated  and  are  uniformly  and  highly  produc- 
tive. The  western  mountains  being  waterless  on  the  valley  side,  such 
of  the  foot  plain  of  these  mountains  as  is  above  the  level  of  irrigation 
from  the  east,  though  equally  fertile,  is  partly  uncultivated,  particularly 
in  the  southern  portion,  where  the  winter  rains  are  deficient. 

Oil  fields  of  the  state,  located  in  the  central  valley,  are  not  described 
in  the  present  report.  These  fields  are  Coalinga,  Devils  Den,  Lost  Hills, 
Belridge,  McKittrick,  Midway,  Buena  Vista,  Elk  Hills  and  Maricopa  or 
Sunset,  lying  in  a  long  and  almost  continuous  strip  along  the  southern 
portion  of  the  hills  to  the  west  of  the  valley,  San  Emidio  at  the  southern 
end,  and  Kern  River,  in  the  foothills  of  the  Sierra,  to  the  east  of  the 
valley  and  directly  opposite  the  west  side  fields. 
Coast  Valley  Division. 

Lying  between  the  Coast  Range  proper  and  a  number  of  minor 
ranges  paralleling  this  range  and  the  ocean,  are  four  large  and  a  num- 
ber of  smaller  valleys,  all  having  a  general^dlireoi^on^  parallel  to  the 
central  valley  and  to  the  Coast.  Eel  River  v  alley,  hie  most  north- 
ern, drains  to  the  Pacific  at  Eureka.  Geologically  this  vat^  exhibits 
marine  sedimentary  formations  of  moderate  age,  th{^i1^'^^'^l||-  some- 
what older  than  those  of  the  central  valley ;  topographically*^  con- 
sists of  a  delta  basin  of  semicircular  form,  with  narrow  valleys  branching 
north  and  south,  surrounded  and  separated  by  rough,  wooded  hills  of 
moderate  height.  The  soil  of  this  valley  is  of  unparalleled  fertility; 
the  climate:  in  winter,  very  mild,  with  excessive  rainfall;  in  summer, 
dry,  mild,  and  invigorating. 

Petroleum  has  been  known  to  exist  in  the  southern  portion  of  this 
valley  since  the  first  settlement  of  the  State,  but,  though  many  wells 
have  been  drilled,  and  some  oil  obtained,  no  paying  production  has  yet 
been  had.  Prospecting  continues  at  intervals,  stimulated  by  the  easy 
drilling  conditions  obtaining  here,  and  the  exceptionally  high  quality  of 
the   oil. 

The  Sonoma  and  Santa  Clara  valleys  drain  south  and  north  into 
San  Francisco  Bay.  They  closely  resemble  the  corresponding  portions 
of  the  central  valley,  but,  owing  to  proximity  to  the  coast,  have  a 
rather  more  equable  climate  and  greater  rainfall.  The  Salinas  Valley, 
draining  to  the  Pacific  near  Watsonville,  is  a  replica  of  the  Santa 
Clara  Valley,  but  on  a  somewhat  greater  scale,  and  with  a  rather  warmer 
climate. 


DESCRIPTIVE.  3 

Petroleum  has  been  sought  at  various  points  in  the  Sonoma  Valley, 
but  Avithout  much  encouragement  to  future  operations.  In  the  Santa 
Clara  Valley  a  small  deposit  of  light  oil  was  early  discovered,  and 
worked  out,  and  though  small  quantities  have  been  found  at  other 
points  on  the  west  side  of  the  valley,  no  production  is  now  had  at  any 
part  of  this  valle3^  Toward  the  southern  end  of  the  Salinas  Valley, 
both  west  and  east,  numerous  attempts  to  obtain  oil  have  been  made, 
and  oil  in  small  quantities  has  been  found  in  a  number  of  places,  but 
no  production  has  been  had,  though  scattered  prospecting  still  con- 
tinues. At  Sargents,  in  the  hills  dividing  the  Salinas  from  the  Santa 
Clara  Valley,  a  small  pool  of  heavy  oil  was  opened  some  years  since, 
but  no  success  has  been  met  in  the  effort  to  extend  this  area. 

The  Santa  ]Maria  Valley,  draining  due  west  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  at 
Guadalupe,  exhibits  conditions  similar  to  those  of  the  Salinas  Valley. 
The  soil,  though  light,  is  extremely  productive,  and  the  climate  very 
mild,  both  winter  and  summer.  The  Santa  Maria  Valley,  and  the  hills 
immediately  south,  are  the  seat  of  extensive  and  important  oil  deposits, 
which  will  be  fully  described  in  the  present  report. 

The  lower  Santa  Clara  Valley,  or  valley  of  the  Santa  Clara  Kiver. 
draining  to  the  ocean  at  Ventura,  is  very  similar  to  the  Santa  Maria 
Valley.  This  is  also  an  important  producing  region,  and  will  be 
described  fully  hereafter.  Many  smaller  valleys,  all  of  very  limited 
extent,  occur  in  the  hill  ranges  on  each  side,  and  have  characteristics 
generally  similar  to  those  of  the  main  valleys  adjacent. 
The  Coast. 

The  Coast  section  proper  is  that  portion  of  the  State,  north  of  Santa 
Barbara,  lying  immediately  adjacent  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Geologically 
it  consists  of  late  marine  sediments,  usually  more  or  less  disturbed; 
topographically  it  is  a  rather  narrow  strip  of  rolling  hills,  too  steep 
for  agriculture  in  the  main,  and  given  over  to  grazing.  As  between 
Eureka,  Point  Arena,  San  Francisco,  and  Monterey  the  coast  is  quite 
devoid  of  harbors,  and  is  backed  by  rough  hills,  much  of  this  strip  is 
quite  inaccessible,  and  is  but  thinly  settled.  The  climate,  winter  and 
summer,  is  extremely  mild,  and  the  seasons  may  hardly  be  distinguished 
other  than  by  the  rainfall,  which  in  summer  gives  place  to  heavy  fogs. 

Petroleum  has  been  sought  at  a  number  of  points  along  the  coast, 
though  but  two  have  yielded  any  production  whatever,  and  this  not  of 
commercial  importance. 
Southern  California. 

The  county  of  Ventura  consists,  in  its  northern  portion,  of  a  group 
of  high  and  rugged  mountains,  from  which  radiate  a  number  of  im- 
portant ranges.  To  the  northwest  extend  the  Mt.  Diablo  and  Coast 
ranges,  having  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  on  their  east,  the  Cuyama  and 
Clarissa  vallevs  between,  and  the  coast  to  the  west. 


4  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHEKN    CALIFORNIA. 

<■ 'Westward  extends  the  Santa  Ynez  Range,  forming  the  backbone  of 
'Sitota  Barbara  County,  and  having  the  Santa  Maria  Valley  to  the  north, 
and  the  ocean  to  the  south  and  at  its  Avest  end. 

The  Tehachapi  leaves  this  group  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  swing- 
ing to  the  north  to  join  the  Sierra  Nevada.  The  southern  end  of  the 
San  Joaquin  Valley  lies  north  of  this  range,  and  the  Mojave  Desert, 
the  most  westerly  arm  of  the  great  desert  region,  forms  a  high  plateau 
to  the  south. 

The  San  Rafael  Mountains  are  the  most  southerly  range  of  this 
cluster,  and  continue  to  the  eastward  under  the  names  of  Tujunga, 
San  Gabriel,  and  San  Bernardino,  all  constituting  a  continuous  range 
and  formation,  having  to  the  north  the  Mojave  Desert,  and  to  the  south 
Southern  California  proper.  At  Mount  San  Bernardino,  in  the  western 
portion  of  the  county  of  that  name,  this  range  turns  to  the  southeast, 
and  continues  in  that  direction,  parallel  to  the  coast,  to  the  Mexican 
border,  under  the  names  San  Jacinto  and  San  Ysidro  mountains.  South- 
ern California  lies  to  the  w^est  of  this  range,  or  system  of  ranges,  and 
the  southern  portion  of  the  great  desert  to  the  east. 

Southern  California,  then,  consists  of  a  parallelogram,  with  its  upper 
and  lower  bounds  lying  east  and  west,  and  its  longer  sides  very  nearly 
northwest  by  southeast.  The  length  of  this  figure  is  upwards  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles,  the  average  width  about  fifty. 

The  climate  of  this  area  is  consistently  mild  and  dry.  The  limited 
rainfall  takes  place  entirely  in  winter,  and  is  generally  insufficient  to 
the  needs  of  agriculture.  Irrigation  is,  therefore,  extensively  prac- 
ticed, there  being  an  abundance  of  water  for  this  purpose.  In  the  more 
level  portions,  the  soil  is  exceedingly  productive,  and  is  largely  devoted 
to  the  raising  of  fruits,  nuts,  and  vegetables.  The  hilly  region  south 
of  the  Santa  Ana  River  is  mainly  given  to  grazing. 
Oil  Developments. 

The  northern  portion  of  this  quadrangle  consists  of  the  low  foothills 
of  the  San  Gabriel  Range,  and  in  these  foothills  are  situated  the  city 
of  Los  Angeles,  and  the  productive  oil  fields  of  Salt  Lake,  Los  Angeles, 
Whittier,  Puente,  and  Fullerton,  lying  along  an  east  and  west  line  pass- 
ing through  the  city.  The  Newhall  and  Ventura  deposits  follow  a  line 
of  similar  direction,  but  farther  to  the  north  and  west,  while  the  Sum- 
merland  field,  and  the  seepages  along  the  coast  from  Naples  to  Carpin- 
teria  follow  a  third  parallel  line.  This  mode  of  occurrence  may  be 
fortuitous,  but  is  sometimes  held  to  indicate  a  relation  with  the  peculiar 
structure  of  this  country.  It  will  be  noted  in  this  connection  that  all 
these  deposits  occur  on  the  south  side  of  the  main  mountain  ranges,  while 
those  of  the  Santa  Maria-Lompoc  group,  which  follow  a  parallel  line. 
He  on  both  sides  of  a  low  range  of  pronounced  anticlinal  structure. 


DESCRIPTIVE.  5 

South  of  Los  Angeles  is  a  plain  of  slight  elevation,  formed  by,  or 
determining,  the  confluence  of  the  Los  Angeles,  San  Gabriel,  and  Santa 
Ana  rivers.  This  plain,  extending  from  Santa  Monica  to  Newport,  and 
from  San  Pedro  to  the  mountains  east  of  Fullerton,  is  more  or  less 
interrupted  by  low  hills  lying  parallel  to  the  coast,  and  at  some  points, 
as  at  San  Pedro  and  Newport,  immediately  adjacent  thereto.  Seepages 
and  asphalt  deposits  occur  in  these  hills,  close  to  the  coast,  and  lignitie 
coal  and  some  indications  of  petroleum  in  the  Santa  Ana  Mountains, 
but  no  production  has  been  had,  in  spite  of  considerable  prospecting. 
South  of  the  Santa  Ana  River  the  country  consists  entirely  of  low  hills 
with  narrow  intervening  valleys,  in  which  no  direct  indications  of  oil 
have  been  reported.  Prospecting  here  has  been  confined  to  the  coast  north 
of  San  Diego,  and,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  has  been  entirely  fruitless. 

The  oil  fields  of  Southern  California  are  distinguished  from  each 
other,  as  well  as  from  the  fields  farther  north,  by  certain  peculiarities 
of  structure,  as  also  in  character  and  quantity  of  production.  In  par- 
ticular, the  uniformity  of  some  of  the  northern  fields  is  entirely  lacking, 
the  only  fields  in  this  part  of  the  State  showing  any  degree  of  uniformity 
being  those  of  Los  Angeles  City,  where  all  the  wells  are,  and  were,  very 
small  producers.  There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  this  may  be  in  part 
ascribed  to  excessive  crowding,  and  as  this  field  shows  a  marked  resem- 
blance to  Kern  River  in  depth,  character  of  oil,  and  formation,  there  is 
some  reason  to  think  that  if  it  had  been  drilled  in  the  manner  practiced 
in  the  north  the  per  well  production  would  have  at  least  approached  that 
of  Kern  River. 

Both  the  Los  Angeles  City  and  Salt  Lake  fields  are  very  narrow 
strips,  hardly  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width  at  any  point,  but 
while  the  city  field  approximated  the  same  yield  and  character  of  oil  at 
all  points,  both  these  factors  are  extremely  variable  at  Salt  Lake.  The 
oil  of  this  latter  field  ranges  from  a  light  tar  to  a  very  gassy  and  volatile 
oil  of  some  25°  gravity,  and  is  peculiar  among  the  oils  of  this  State  by 
its  unusually  high  percentage  of  sulfur,  and  by  a  much  greater 
volatility  than  the  gravity  would  indicate. 

The  Whittier  field,  which  is  separated  from  Los  Angeles  by  but  a 
narrow  interval,  is  somewhat  similar  in  formation,  being  a  rather  narrow 
strip  dipping  the  narrow  way,  but  differs  considerably  in  the  local  con- 
ditions, the  characteristic  rocks  of  the  Los  Angeles  field  being  soft  shales 
and  clays,  while  conglomerates  and  other  harder  materials  predominate 
at  "Whittier.  In  the  latter  field  also  the  production  of  individual  wells, 
while  always  small  as  judged  by  the  usual  standards  in  this  State,  varies 
considerably  from  well  to  well,  as  does  also  the  character  of  the  oil. 
This,  however,  varies  normally ;  that  is,  heavy  oils  are  found  close  to 
the  outcrops  and  faults,  while  lighter  oils  are  developed  farther  down 
the  dip.     The  character  of  Whittier  oil,  from  the  chemical  standpoin,t, 


b  PETHOLKUM    TN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

is  quite  uniform,  regardless  of  gravity,  and  is  sharply  distinguished 
from  that  of  Los  Angeles  and  Salt  Lake  oil  by  the  much  smaller  per- 
centage of  sulfur,  which  approaches  that  of  the  Midway  oils. 

The  Puente  group,  which  is  closely  adjacent  to  the  Whittier  wells, 
resembles  the  latter  in  quality  of  oil  produced,  and  in  small  individual 
production,  which,  however,  is  more  uniform  and  at  a  more  regular 
depth.  The  oil  of  Puente  is  also  somewhat  lighter  than  even  the  lightest 
at  Whittier,  but  resembles  it  in  chemical  makeup  and  refining  value. 
Immediately  south,  however,  of  the  Puente  wells,  is  the  Brea  Canon 
group,  which  produce  a  very  different  oil,  and  under  different  condi- 
tions. These  oils  are  much  heavier ;  the  formation  is  a  monocline  of  very 
moderate  dip,  and  individual  production  is  much  larger,  reaching  very 
substantial  figures  in  some  cases. 

Irregularities  of  every  kind  are  perhaps  more  marked  in  the  Fuller- 
ton  or  Olinda  fields  than  in  any  other  single  group  of  wells  in  the  State. 
Not  only  do  the  depth  of  wells,  productiveness,  and  gravity  vary  widely 
within  a  very  limited  area,  but  two  distinctly  different  oils,  betraying  an 
entirely  separate  origin,  are  produced  from  immediately  adjacent  wells, 
the  line  of  separation  between  light  oil  and  heavy  oil  territory  being 
unmarked  by  any  surface  indications,  and  only  determinable  by  drilling. 
The  production  of  the  light  oil  end  of  the  field  is  comparable  to  that  of 
Puente,  both  in  quality  and  quantity.  The  average  per  well  production 
of  the  Fullerton  field  is  considerably  larger  than  that  of  Whittier, 
Puente,  and  Los  Angeles,  and  approaches  that  of  Salt  Lake,  but  the 
maximum  production  of  the  latter  field  is  far  greater  than  that  of  any 
other  district  in  thi.s  end  of  the  State,  and  in  a  few  cases  has  been  com- 
parable with  the  performances  of  all  but  the  best  wells  of  the  northern 
fields. 

The  Ventura-Newhall  group  is  hardly  to  be  called  a  field,  but  is 
rather  a  succession  of  small  fields,  some  clearly  distinguished,  a  few 
possible  of  connection  with  other  groups.  This  is  not  the  place  to  dis- 
tinguish between  these  little  pools,  but  it  may  be  said  that,  while 
they  differ  greatly  m  the  character  of  the  oil  produced,  so  far  as 
physical  properties  go.  the  chemical  resemblance  is  strong  throughout, 
and  a  common  origin  is  indicated.  It  is  probably  safe  to  ascribe  the 
separation  of  these  pools,  and  the  differing  physical'  characteristics, 
rather  to  an  unusual  degree  of  fracturing  than  to  any  material  varia- 
tion in  the  character  of  the  producing  formation,  which  is  uniformly 
hard,  and  therefore  gives  wells  of  small  individual  production.  Some 
of  the  individual  groups,  however,  show  marked  peculiarities  of  struc- 
ture, which  will  be  detailed  in  their  proper  place. 
'  The  little  Summerland  group  gives  the  only  production  which  has 
been  found  along  the  south  coast  of  Santa  Barbara  County,  and  certain 
peculiarities  of  this  region,  which  will  be  detailed  later,  suggest  that 


DESCRIPTIVE.  7 

this  tiny  pool  is  a  sort  of  stray  sand,  and  does  not  indicate  the  presence, 
or  even  the  probability,  of  similar  pools  in  like  situations.  This  is  a 
typical  California  field,  producing  heavy  and  viscous  oils  from  loose 
sand,  interbedded  with  soft  shales  and  clays. 

The  Santa  Maria  oil  field  consists  of  three  quite  distinct  groups  of 
wells,  producing,  however,  from  the  same  type  of  formation,  and  giving 
an  oil  of  the  same  general  character.  The  ' '  Old  Field, ' '  or  Santa  Maria 
field  proper,  produces  mainly  from  fissured,  sandy  shale,  the  density 
of  the  shale  being  such  that  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the 
productive  capacity  of  individual  wells  depends  rather  on  the  degree 
of  fissuring  than  on  the  holding  capacity  of  the  shale  itself.  Produc- 
tion per  well  has,  therefore,  varied  greatly,  and  in  some  cases  has  been 
extremely  large,  and  even  now  the  average  for  the  field  is  very  satis- 
factory indeed.  This  oil  is  marked  hy  a  uniformly  high  gravity,  and 
by  certain  chemical  peculiarities  which  can  not  be  described,  but  which 
sharply  set  it  off  from  any  other  oil  known  to  exist  in  California.  The 
most  apparent  of  these  peculiarities  it  shares  with  the  oils  of  Salt 
Lake — a  very  high  percentage  of  sulfur,  and  a  much  greater  degree  of 
volatility  than  would  be  indicated  by  the  gravity,  but  the  resemblance 
ceases  here,  the  oils  of  Salt  Lake  being  in  other  respects  quite  normal. 

The  Cat  Caiion,  or  "East  Field,"  produces  from  formations  of  the 
same  general  age  as  those  of  the  old  field,  but  the  oil  is  found  in  loose 
sand.  It  is  much  heavier  than  the  oil  of  the  old  field,  being  somewhat 
heavier  in  gravity  than  the  oils  of  Kern  River,  and  of  considerably 
greater  viscosity,  but  shares  with  the  former  in  marked  chemical  peculiar- 
ities, which  point  toward  a  common  origin  for  the  two.  The  same  may  be 
said  for  the  oils  of  the  Lompoc  group,  which  are  intermediate  in  gravity, 
ranging  from  16°  to  18°  Beaume.  The  Cat  Canon  field  is  too  little 
developed  to  give  any  definite  idea  as  to  its  productive  capacity  as  a 
whole,  but  the  output  of  two  or  three  of  the  earlier  wells  has  been,  and 
still  is,  very  large.  The  per  well  production  in  the  Lompoc  group  is 
rather  variable,  but  apparently  has  not  been  so  great,  though  still  very 
satisfactory  as  a  whole. 

Of  the  total  area  of  this  end  of  the  State,  the  amount  from  which  oil 
has  been  produced,  or  which  has  been  seriously  tested,  is  but  a  minute 
fraction.  Much  of  it,  of  course,  is  high  mountain  country,  exposing 
rocks  which  at  once  preclude  the  possibility  of  the  presence  of  oil. 
Other  is  valley  land,  in  which  the  country  rock  is  deeply  buried  beneath 
layers  of  silt  and  sand.  Yet,  allo\\'ing  for  such  deductions,  there  is  still 
a  great  deal  of  yet  untested  territory,  and  it  is  hardly  possible  that 
of  this  some  at  least  will  not  ultimately  be  brought  to  production. 

The  object  of  this  report  is  not  to  point  out  the  possibilities  of 
untested  areas,  for  such  would  be  an  unending  labor,  but  rather  to  sum- 


8  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHEKN    CALIFORNIA. 

marize  and  describe  the  work  already  done,  and  draw  from  it  such 
conclusions  as  may  point  to  the  prospects  for  extending  those  areas 
already  producing. 

To  this  end,  we  will  first  consider  the  fields  already  named,  and 
thereafter  give  such  data  as  are  obtainable  regarding  work  done  outside 
of  these  fields.  The  fields  will  be  found  described  under  their  recog- 
nized names,  while  work  done  outside  the  bounds  of  these  fields,  as 
mapped,  will  be  divided  according  to  the  counties  in  which  it  was  per- 
formed. The  names  of  companies  now  operating  or  having  operated  in 
various  fields  will  be  found  in  the  index,  and  arranged  geographically 
in  each  field. 


METHODS    OF    OIL    ANALYSIS.  \) 

CITAl'TKR   ir. 

METHODS  OF  OIL  ANALYSIS. 

In  the  following  pages  a  number  of  analyses  of  crude  oils  are  given. 
As  these  analyses,  and  others  with  which  they  may  be  compared,  were 
made  by  various  persons  and  stated  in  different  ways,  it  is  necessary  to 
explain  in  some  detail  the  extent  and  the  bearing;  of  these  differences,  as 
otherwise  the  analyses  given  herein  would  be  little  more  than  a  collection 
of  meaningless  figures. 

An  oil  analysis  differs  materially  from  the  ordinary  mineral  or 
organic  analysis  in  that  it  can  not  be  reduced  to  any  absolute  basis. 
For  instance,  in  analyzing  a  sample  of  water,  we  find  certain  quantities 
of,  say,  sodium  clorid,  calcium  sulfate,  magnesium  sulfate,  and  other 
salts,  each  of  which  is  a  definite  chemical  compound,  subject  to  exact 
measurement.  And,  therefore,  the  analysis  has  an  absolute  basis — 
if  we  correctly  determine  the  quantity  of  each  salt,  and  check  the  sum 
against  the  total  solids  in  the  water,  we  know  to  a  certainty  that  we 
have  discovered  and  estimated  all  the  dissolved  matter,  and  that  the 
balance  to  make  up  100  per  cent  is  pure  water.  And  so  it  follows  that 
if  any  number  of  identical  samples  be  tested  by  different  observers,  at 
any  time  or  place,  the  results  will  be  identical,  provided  the  work  be 
correctly  done. 

So  in  ordinary  organic  work,  such  as  wine  analysis,  the  sample  may 
be  divided  into  water,  alcohol,  sugar,  essential  oils  and  coloring  matter, 
all  definite  substances,  capable  of  exact  estimation,  and  therefore  again 
the  results  on  identical  samples  must  always  be  the  same,  if  the  analysis 
is  accurately  made. 

This  absolute  basis  is  entirely  lacking  in  the  case  of  an  oil  analysis 
(the  word  oil  here  used  to  mean  petroleum  only).  A  crude  petroleum 
is  a  mixture  of  a  very  large  number  of  separate  substances,  many  of 
which  have  never  been  isolated  and  described,  and  even  could  the 
analyst  separate  and  estimate  the  quantity  of  each  of  these  in  the  sample 
submitted  to  him  (which  for  several  reasons  he  can  not),  the  result 
would  be  of  interest  only  to  the  research  chemist,  and  have  no  practical 
value. 

The  commercial  value  of  a  sample  of  petroleum  depends  on  two 
factors — the  percentage  of  valuable  constituents,  and  the  ease  with 
which  these  more  valuable  elements  may  be  separated  from  those  of  less 
value  and  brought  to  the  state  of  purity  demanded  by  the  market.  The 
rational  object  of  the  commercial  oil  analysis  is,  therefore:  first,  to 
separate  the  oil  into  such  commercial  products  as  have  the  greatest 
aggregate  value  and  determine  the  quantity  of  each :  and,  second,  to 


10  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

form  an  opiniou  as  to  the  ease  with  which  this  process  may  be  carried 
may  be  met,  Avithin  limits,  by  suitable  analytical  methods;  the  second 
of  making  first-class  products  on  a  large  scale.  The  first  requirement 
may  be  met,  within  limits,  by  suitable  analytical  methods,  the  second 
calls  for  skill  and  judgment  on  the  part  of  the  operator. 

In  separating  a  small  sample  of  oil  into  the  most  desirable  commercial 
fractions,  and  determining  the  quantity  and  quality  of  each  fraction, 
we  meet  at  once  three  difficulties,  which  we  seek  to  avoid,  so  far  as  may 
be,  in  the  following  manner: 

The  first  difficulty  is,  that  the  products  of  different  oils,  even  when 
sold  under  the  same  name,  are  not  always  identical  in  properties.  For 
instance,  the  gasoline  now  on  the  market  in  California  varies  from  58° 
to  62°  Beaume  in  gravity.  Any  refiner  knows  that  if  an  oil  gives  a  cer- 
tain yield  of  62°  gasoline,  it  will  give  a  much  larger  yield  of  a  gasoline 
of  58°  gravity,  and  correspondingly  less  of  the  next  fraction.  This 
variation  in  specifications  holds  good  for  all  petroleum  products,  and 
can  be  met  in  but  one  way— by  selecting  arbitrarily  such  specifications 
as  give  the  nearest  approach  to  average  refinery  practice,  and  adhering 
to  these  specifications  in  all  analyses.  While  this  sometimes  does  an 
injustice  to  individual  oils,  it  is  probably  the  only  method  feasible  for 
a  large  number  of  analyses. 

The  second  difficulty  is  that  an  oil  can  be  made  to  give  a  number  of 
overlapping  products.  This  applies  particularly  to  the  lubricating  end 
of  the  crude,  and  makes  it  impossible  to  give  figures  having  more  than 
a  suggestive  value.  For  instance,  whole  series  of  dynamo,  neutral  and 
other  light  oils,  of  red  oils  of  various  colors  and  viscosities,  of  skid 
oils  and  grease  stocks,  and  of  gas  and  steam  cylinder  oils,  may  be  made 
from  almost  any  crude  by  various  methods  of  distillation  and  treat- 
ment. But  from  any  one  batch  of  crude  but  two,  three,  or  four  kinds 
of  oil  can  be  made,  all  other  possible  oils  being  made  from  the  same  por- 
tions of  the  stock  by  different  refinery  manipulation.  Thus,  a  complete 
analysis  of  the  heavy  end  of  a  crude  becomes  extremely  complicated, 
and  in  a  small  scale  analysis  we  can  do  no  more  than  to  bulk  together 
all  those  portions  of  the  oil  having  any  lubricating  value,  and  give  the 
principal  properties  of  the  average  product  thus  obtained.  This,  of 
course,  gives  only  a  very  general  idea  of  the  value  of  the  crude  oil  as 
raw  material  for  these  products. 

The  third  difficulty  is  a  very  serious  one,  and  can  be  surmounted  only 
in  part,  and  that  by  very  careful  selection  and  regulation  of  laboratory 
methods.  This  difficulty  is,  that  the  products  from  any  given  oil,  even 
when  made  to  set  specifications,  are  not  always  the  same,  but  depend 
to  a  large  extent  on  the  conditions  surrounding  distillation  of  the  crude. 
This  condition  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the   distillation  products  of 


METHODS    OF    OIL   ANALYSIS.  11 

petroleum  do  not  entirely  exist  as  such  in  the  crude,  but  are  formed  by 
a  partial  decomposition  of  the  oil  during  distillation,  and  the  quantity 
and  quality  of  various  products  yielded  by  the  oil  is  materially  influ- 
enced by  the  extent  to  which  decomposition  is  allowed  to  take  place  in 
the  crude  still.  For  instance,  a  sample  of  heavy  crude  may  be  distilled 
with  the  least  possible  decomposition,  giving  an  average  distillate  of, 
say,  18°  Beaume,  and  a  certain  percentage  of  asphalt  of  a  certain  degree 
of  purity.  By  so  conducting  the  distillation  as  to  greatly  decompose  the 
oil,  the  average  gravity  of  the  distillate  may  be  greatly  increased,  up 
to  30°  Beaume,  or  even  more,  by  which  the  lubricating  oils  are  almost 
entirely  destroyed;  this  treatment  considerably  increases  the  yield  of 
asphalt,  but  much  diminishes  its  purity. 

This  excess  decomposition  is  sometimes  advantageous  in  practice 
(within  limits) ,  but,  as  a  rule,  is  avoided  as  far  as  possible,  and  in  mak- 
ing small  scale  analyses  the  only  safe  rule  is  to  keep  decomposition  down 
to  the  lowest  possible  terms.  This  is  by  no  means  easy,  even  when  all 
precautions  are  taken,  and  analyses  made  under  conditions  of  great 
decomposition,  as  where  the  crude  is  distilled  dry  in  glass  flasks,  are 
valueless  so  far  as  the  lubricating  end  of  the  oil  is  concerned.  The 
various  means  used  to  reduce  decomposition  are  described  in  later 
paragraphs. 

Where  due  precautions  are  followed  in  the  selection  of  a  working 
method,  analyses  on  even  a  very  small  scale  may  be  made  to  produce 
results  agreeing  very  well  with  those  obtained  in  practice.  The  differ- 
ent series  of  analyses  quoted  in  the  following  pages  differ  in  this  respect, 
and  an  attempt  will  be  made  to  show  how  far  the  results  in  each  series 
may  be  depended  on. 

Selection  of  Samples. 

Considering  the  extent  of  territory  covered  by  this  report,  and  the 
number  of  producing  wells  therein,  it  will  be  evident  that  even  to 
obtain,  much  less  to  analyze,  a  sample  from  each  well,  is  entirely  out  of 
the  question.  In  order  to  keep  the  number  of  analyses  within  reason- 
able bounds,  and  at  the  same  time  cover  the  range  of  qualities  as  fully 
as  possible,  the  following  plan  was  adopted. 

The  entire  field  was  divided  into  small  groups  of  wells,  which  appar- 
ently draw  their  oil  from  a  common  source.  Thus,  in  the  Ojai  Valley 
and  vicinity,  the  Pirie  wells,  the  Sulphur  Mountain  wells,  the  group  on 
the  divide  between  Ojai  and  Sisar,  and  the  Silverthread  group,  may 
each  be  considered  as  a  unit,  the  probabilities  being  that  all  the  wells 
in  each  group  produce  from  the  same  sand  or  succession  of  sands. 

From  each  group  the  greatest  possible  number  of  samples  was 
obtained,  and  the  gravity  and  viscosity  of  each  noted,  as  well  as  any 
peculiarities  of  color  and  odor.     Samples  of  maximum  and  minimum 


12  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

gravity  were  then  taken  for  analysis,  and,  where  this  range  is  at  all 
considerable,  one  or  more  samples  of  intermediate  gravity.  Where 
any  great  differences  of  color  and  odor  were  observable,  samples  show- 
ing these  peculiarities  were  also  taken,  regardless  of  gravity. 

Thus,  for  instance,  in  the  Upper  Ojai  group,  all  the  samples  were  of 
the  usual  blackish  brown  color,  with  the  flat  sweetish  odor  character- 
istic of  San  Joaquin  Valley  oils,  and  of  normal  viscosity  for  each 
gravity,  and  all  gave  a  precipitate  of  asphaltene  on  dilution.  The 
assumption  was  thus  highly  probable  that  all  the  oils  of  this  group  were 
of  the  same  general  nature.  The  gravity  range  was  from  11.8°  to  19.3° 
Beaume,  and  samples  of  these  two  gravities  were  taken  for  analysis,  as 
well  as  two  samples  of  intermediate  gravity.  As  these  four  samples 
show  a  very  regular  gradation  of  properties,  it  is  quite  safe  to  assume 
that  oils  lying  between  these  in  gravity  would  have  corresponding 
analyses. 

In  some  of  the  Ex-Mission  groups,  however,  we  find  two  distinct 
classes  of  oils — those  of  the  usual  blackish  color,  giving  a  normal  amount 
of  asphaltene  on  dilution,  and  oils  of  a  lower  gravity,  but  of  a  green- 
ish color,  giving  little  or  no  asphaltene  precipitate.  In  such  cases, 
samples  of  maximum  and  minimum,  and  in  some  instances  of  inter- 
mediate gravity,  from  both  classes,  w^ere  analyzed. 

Source  and  Classification  of  Analyses. 

Only  a  portion  of  the  analyses  given  herein  were  made  for  the  pur- 
poses of  this  report,  as  on  account  of  the  great  labor  involved  in  this 
work  it  was  not  thought  necessary  to  duplicate  satisfactory  analyses 
which  had  already  appeared  in  print.  Where  such  are  used,  however, 
they  have,  so  far  as  possible,  been  recalculated  to  bring  them  to  uni- 
formity wnth  the  later  analyses  in  order  to  facilitate  comparisons.  It 
is  well  known  that  several  analyses  of  a  single  oil  may  be  given,  so  dif- 
ferent in  appearance  that  only  on  the  most  careful  examination  would 
it  appear  that  the  same  oil  was  being  described,  yet  all  equally  cor- 
rect, the  difference  being  solely  in  the  manner  in  which  the  results  were 
presented.  ■  It  will  be  apparent  that  where  a  large  number  of  analyses 
are  given,  the  usefulness  of  the  figures  will  be  greatly  increased  by  a 
uniform  method  of  statement.  So,  in  all  cases  where  the  analysis  in 
its  original  form  gave  the  results  according  to  temperature  fractions, 
or  in  a  different  set  of  gravity  fractions  from  the  standard  adopted, 
these  have  been  recalculated  to  percentages  of  the  standard  gravities 
adopted  in  later  analyses.  But  as  such  calculations  are  not  absolute, 
depending  to  some  extent  on  the  judgment  of  the  analj^st.  the  original 
temperature  and  gravity  fractions  are  also  given,  to  enable  the  reader 
to  make  his  own  deductions  if  he  so  desires. 

The  analyses  given  in  the  following  pages  are  divided  into  six  classes, 


METHODS    OF    OIL   ANALYSIS,  13 

according  to  their  date  and  origin,  and  distinguished  by  series  of  num- 
bers, as  follows: 

Numbers  7400  to  7499.  These  were  made  in  1902  by  Mr.  H.  N. 
Cooper,  and  published  in  Bulletins  31  and  32  of  the  California  State 
Mining  Bureau.  As  the  method  followed  was  dry  distillation  into  tem- 
perature fractions,  the  results  have  been  recast  as  above  stated. 

Numbers  8400  to  8499.  Collected  from  various  sources  and  made  by 
various  methods,  which  are  individually  described  in  connection  with 
the  analysis. 

Numbers  400  to  499  and  1400  to  1499.  Made  in  the  writer's  labora- 
tory between  1899  and  1902  by  various  methods,  individually  described. 

Numbers  2400  to  2499.  Made  by  Messrs.  Wayne  Colver  and  Edward 
N.  Moor,  and  by  the  writer,  in  1902  and  1903,  and  in  part  published  in 
Bulletin  32  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau.  These  have  been 
recalculated  to  later  standards. 

Numbers  3400  to  3499.  Made  by  the  writer  since  1903,  by  a  method 
similar  to  that  followed  with  the  next  series,  and  recalculated. 

Numbers  4400  to  4499  and  5400  to  5449.  Made  in  1910  and  1911,  by 
a  method  specially  worked  out  for  comparing  small  samples.  This 
method  is  described  in  detail  below,  and  forms  the  basis  with  which  the 
other  results  here  given  are  compared. 

Analyses  Having  Numbers  Between  4400  and  5449. 

As  these  results  are  taken  as  a  basis  for  comparison,  the  method  by 
which  they  are  arrived  at  will  be  first  described.  These  analyses  were 
made  by  J.  P.  Prutzman  &  Son,  Petroleum  Engineers,  by  whom  they 
were  contributed  to  this  work.  The  samples,  except  as  otherwise  stated, 
were  taken  by  field  assistants  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau. 

Gravity.  These  tests  were  made,  except  in  a  few  doubtful  cases, 
with  glass  hydrometers,  accurately  standardized  at  two  or  more  points 
by  checks  against  Westphal  weights.  In  the  hands  of  a  skilled  operator, 
hydrometer  readings  properly  corrected  for  meniscus  and  temperature 
are  quite  accurate  enough  for  all  ordinary  purposes,  and  are  consider- 
ably more  accurate  than  the  figures  usually  had  in  the  field  and  refinery. 
Where  calculations  of  volumes  to  weights  were  to  be  made,  or  in  any 
case  where  extreme  accuracy  was  desired,  the  Westphal  balance  was 
used,  as  being  much  more  rapid  than  picnometer  weights,  and  at  least 
as  dependable. 

For  temperature  corrections,  the  factor  0.07°  Beaume  per  degree  F. 
was  used  throughout.  This  factor  is  absolutely  accurate  only  within  a 
very  limited  range  of  gravities,  the  true  correction  ranging  from  about 
0.05°  at  10°  Beaume  to  about  0.09°  at  70°  Beaume.  As  all  readings, 
however,  were  made  between  50°  and  80°  F.,  and  most  of  them  between 
60°  and  70°,  the  error  thus  introduced  is  inappreciable. 


14 


PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


Figure  4 
SULFUR  COMBUSTION  BOHB 


Comttustlcn    ;] 


':j 


Longitudinal   Sact 


Through  Chamber 


Viscosity.  All  the  tests  given  herein,  except  where  otherwise  stated, 
were  made  with  an  Engler  instrument,  standardized  with  water.  The 
viscosity  of  distilled  water  at  60°  F.  is  taken  as  unity. 

Flash  tests.  These  are  the  usual  open  cup  tests,  standard  in  the 
trade.  Electric  spark  was  used,  and  the  usual  rate  of  temperature 
increase  followed. 

Sulfur.  This  element  was  determined  by  means  of  combustion  in 
sodium  peroxid,  in  a  bomb  of  the  construction  shown  by  attached  fig- 
ure.    (See  Figure  4.)     By  using  pressure  on  the  mixture,  the  difficulty 

sometimes  found  in  getting 
perfectly  white  residues  is 
entirely  avoided,  and  there  is 
every  reason  to  believe  that 
the  sulfur  determinations  so 
made  are  entirely  accurate. 
A  considerable  number  of 
tests  made  by  Mr.  F.  S. 
Wade,  chemist  for  the  Los 
Angeles  Gas  and  Electric 
Corporation,  in  which  the 
results  of  peroxid  combustion 
were  checked  against  oxygen 
bomb  combustions,  gave  a 
very  close  correspondence  in  every  case.  The  combustion  residues  were 
neutralized,  boiled,  precipitated  as  barium  sulfate,  and  weighed  in  the 
usual  manner. 

Nitrogen.  Determinations  of  this  element  were  made  by  a  modifica- 
tion of  the  Kjeldahl  process,  in  which  the  oil  is  oxidized  by  means  of 
fuming  sulfuric  acid  and  permanganate  until  colorless,  diluted,  neutral- 
ized, and  distilled,  and  the  ammonia  estimated  in  the  usual  manner. 

Carbon.  A  few  determinations  of  total  carbon  were  made  by  evolu- 
tion of  the  carbon  dioxid  from  the  residues  of  peroxid  combustions,  the 
gas  being  read  volumetrically.  This  method  is  very  simple,  though  not 
so  accurate  as  tube  combustions,  and  requires  to  be  always  run  against 
a  blank  test  to  determine  carbonates  in  the  peroxid  used. 

Asphaltene.  This  determination  is  made  by  pouring  a  small  sample 
of  the -oil  into  two  hundred  parts  of  a  very  light  gasoline,  being  the 
fraction  of  ordinary  86°  gasoline  boiling  between  100°  and  150°  F.  The 
oil  is  poured  in  very  slowly,  the  gasoline  being  strongly  stirred  to  pre- 
vent precipitation  in  lumps.  The  precipitate  is  then  worked  on  to  dried 
and  tared  filters,  washed  first  with  the  same  gasoline,  then  with  ordi- 
nary 86°  gasoline,  until  the  filtrate  is  colorless,  and  finally  dried  at 


METHODS    OF    OIL   ANALYSIS. 


15 


80°  Cent.,  and  weighed.     Weight  is  expressed  in  percentage  of  the 
weight  (not  volume)  of  the  oil. 

Distillation.  A  sample  of  150  or  200  c.c.  was  placed  in  a  pear-shaped 
copper  flask  (oxygen  retort),  and  connected  by  bent  outlet  pipe  to  a 
glass  worm  condenser.  No  thermometer  was  used,  cuts  being  made 
entirely  by  gravity. 

The  first  cut  was  tested  when  5  c.c.  had  collected.  If  this  proved  to 
be  above  61°  gravity,  further  distillate  was  run  in  until  this  gravity 
was  reached.  If  below  61°  on  the  first  test,  distillate  was  run  in  until 
a  gravity  of  52°  was  reached. 
This  proceeding  is  open  to  the 
objection  that  the  first  test  on 
5  c.c.  (or  from  2|  to  3^  per 
cent  of  the  crude)  might  be 
below  61°,  while  a  smaller 
quantity  might  be  above  this 
gravity;  in  other  words,  that 
a  very  small  quantity  of  gaso- 
line might  escape  observation. 
It  must  be  said,  however,  that 
no  method  of  even  approxi- 
mating the  gravity  of  ex- 
tremely small  samples  of 
gasoline  has  yet  been  devised 
which  does  not  involve  too 
much  wastage  and  evapora- 
tion to  permit  of  adding 
further  distillate  should  the 
gravity  prove  too  high.  Pic- 
nometer  gravities  may  be 
taken  on  as  little  as  1  c.c.  of 
sample,  but  as  the  bottle  can  hardly  be  charged  with  a  loss  of  less  than 
one  half  c.c,  and  the  pouring  back  and  forth  seriously  lowers  the 
gravity,  gasoline  thus  weighed  can  not  be  poured  back  and  added  to  if 
it  proves  too  light.  While  by  the  use  of  a  delicate  float  graduated  to 
61°,  if  the  float  sinks  in  the  first  drops,  distillate  can  be  run  in  until  the 
float  rises,  or  if  it  rises  in  the  first  drops,  the  float  can  be  fished  out  and 
replaced  by  a  52°  float  without  any  material  loss  in  either  quantity  or 
gravity.  Of  course,  it  will  be  understood  that  percentages  determined 
on  such  small  samples  are  only  approximate,  but,  while  the  figures  are 
not  represented  to  be  absolutely  accurate,  it  is  surprising  how  closely 
they  do  check,  in  most  cases,  with  the  results  of  actual  running  tests. 

The  gasoline,  if  any,  being  separated,  cuts  are  made  to  bulk  gravities 
(corresponding  to  tank  gravities  in  the  refinery)  of  52°  (engine  distil- 


OIL  TEST  STILL 
For  DlBtlll.tloni 
Curr«nt  of  Obi 


16  PETKOLEUM   IN    SOUTHEEN   CALIFORNIA. 

late),  42°  (kerosene),  and  33°  (stove  oil).  At  the  beginning  of  this 
cut  the  fire  is  slackened,  and  a  stream  of  ordinary  illuminating  gas 
turned  into  the  oil,  through  a  pipe  brazed  into  the  head  and  reaching 
to  bottom  of  still.  This  gas  is  used  in  place  of  "bottom  steam"  to 
carry  out  the  heavy  vapors  and  reduce  decomposition  as  far  as  possible. 
It  is  feasible  to  use  steam  for  this  purpose  in  larger  stills,  even  down 
to  a  half-gallon  size,  but  the  writer  has  never  been  able  to  devise  a 
practicable  means  of  regulating  the  admission  of  the  very  small  amounts 
6f  steam  permissible  in  a  still  taking  a  200  c.c.  charge.  The  use  of  gas 
for  this  purpose  is  rather  novel,  but  it  appears  to  give  almost  the  same 
results  as  steam,  and  is  extremely  easy  to  control.  It  requires  consid- 
erable baffling  in  the  condenser  to  avoid  the  carrying  through  of  a  fog 
of  uncondensed  vapor. 

Distillation  is  continued,  in  this  method,  to  a  dry  coke,  the  bottom  of 
the  still  being  brought  to  a  dull  red  heat.  The  still  is  then  cooled, 
passage  of  gas  being  continued  until  still  is  almost  cold,  and  the  coke 
scraped  out  and  weighed — the  coke  is  usually  friable  and  flaky,  and 
readily  removed.  The  yield  of  coke  is  calculated  to  the  corresponding 
amount  of  D  asphalt  by  multiplying  by  the  factor  2.5.  The  basis  for 
this  factor  is  given  in  a  later  paragraph. 

The  last  fraction  now  contains  all  the  middlings  and  lubricants,  but 
the  yield  is,  of  course,  too  large  by  the  difl'erence  between  the  yield  of 
coke  and  the  calculated  yield  of  asphalt.  The  percentage  obtained  is 
therefore  reduced  by  this  difference,  it  being  assumed  that  the  distillate 
obtained  on  coking  the  asphalt  would  contain  the  same  ratio  of  mid- 
dlings to  lubricants  as  the  earlier  part  of  the  cut,  and,  considering  the 
severe  cracking  which  the  coking  distillate  undergoes,  this  is  not  a  vio- 
lent assumption — in  any  case,  the  error  thus  introduced  is  small. 

The  total  bulk  of  the  last  cut,  after  taking  gravity,  is  put  into  a 
small  Engler  flask  and  distilled  in  a  current  of  gas  until  the  distillate 
shows  28°  Beaume.  As  this  distillation  must  be  done  rather  rapidly,  to 
avoid  burning  the  residue,  the  exact  gravity  is  rather  difficult  to  strike, 
and  in  practice  the  gravity  of  distillate  obtained  varies  somewhat,  but  is 
stated  in  each  case.  The  figures  for  middlings  and  lubricants  are  there- 
fore the  least  certain  of  any  stated  in  these  analyses,  but  this  is  true 
with  any  method,  as  the  extent  to  which  decomposition  takes  place  in 
the  first  run  greatly  influences  these  figures. 

Finally,  the  residue  from  the  last  distillation  (green  oil)  is  shaken 
for  five  minutes  with  exactly  5  per  cent  of  its  bulk  of  66°  commercial 
sulfuric  acid  (added  from  a  burette),  allowed  to  settle,  exactly  neutral- 
ized, and  cleared.  The  gravity,  viscosity  and  color  of  the  red  oil  thus 
obtained  are  noted.  The  light  fractions  (52°  and  42°)  are  also  treated 
with  small  doses  of  acid  and  n<^utralized — the  color  after  treatment  is 


METHODS    OF    OIL   ANALYSIS.  17 

indeterminate,  as  a  trace  of  outside  impurity  will  throw  these  off  con- 
siderably, but  the  odor  and  the  behavior  of  the  acid  will  usually  throw 
some  light  on  the  readiness  with  which  these  oils  will  treat  out  in 
practice. 

Where  proper  arrangements  are  made  for  carrying  on  several 
analyses  simultaneously,  the  time  required  by  a  skilled  operator  is  from 
four  to  five  hours  per  analysis.  In  common  with  all  methods  using 
small  samples,  this  scheme  gives  only  approximate  results,  but,  so  far  as 
the  writer  is  aware,  the  results  come  closer  to  those  obtained  in  prac- 
tice than  those  given  by  any  other  method.  The  following  remarks  may 
be  made  as  to  the  validity  of  the  various  figures  obtained: 

The  gasoline  percentage  is  usually  fairly  accurate.  A  smaller  per- 
centage of  gasoline  than  3  per  cent  will  not  usually  be  indicated,  but 
will  be  added  to  the  engine  distillate. 

The  engine  distillate  is  quite  accurate,  except  in  the  above  case^ 
where  there  is  a  yield  of  gasoline  too  small  to  measure. 

The  kerosene  percentage  is  accurate  so  far  as  its  goes,  but  as  it  takes 
no  account  of  flash  test  or  burning  properties  (which  can  not  be  had  on 
siich  small  samples)  the  percentage  of  finished  kerosene  is  not  indicated, 
except  by  analogy  with  other  oils  of  the  same  character.  In  compar- 
ing a  number  of  samples  of  the  same  general  nature,  the  amounts  of 
kerosene  will  be  pretty  closely  proportional  to  the  yield  of  kerosene 
stock  given  in  this  test. 

The  figure  for  first  run  stove  oil  is  accurate. 

The  figures  for  middlings  and  lubricants  are  only  suggestive,  as  this 
part  of  the  stock  may  be  cut  in  many  different  ways,  and  the  manner  of 
handling  the  crude  greatly  effects  the  results  obtained  on  a  large  scale. 

The  figure  for  asphalt  is  considerably  more  accurate  than  in  any 
method  of  direct  running  applicable  to  small  samples,  and  is  usually 
within  two  or  three  per  cent  of  the  actual  refining  figure  for  the  hard- 
ness given.  SmaU  scale  tests  in  which  the  asphalt  is  determined 
directly  often  vary  ten  per  cent,  or  even  more,  from  the  truth,  unless 
they  are  corrected  for  hardness. 
Analyses  Having  Numbers  Between  400  and  499,  and  Between  1400  and  1499. 

These  analyses  are  from  the  private  records  of  the  writer.  The 
figures  were  made  at  various  times  and  for  widely  different  purposes, 
and  the  methods  used  varied  considerably.  For  this  reason,  a  brief 
description  of  the  operating  method  is  given  preceding  each  analysis  in 
this  series,  but  the  general  methods  followed  in  making  specific  deter- 
minations, such  as  gravity,  viscosity,  sulfur  and  asphaltene,  are  the 
same  as  in  the  4400  series  just  described. 

3—63 


IS  I'KTROLKUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Analyses  Having  Numbers  Between  2400  and  2499. 

These  analyses  were  made  in  the  writer's  laboratory,  in  the  years 
1902  and  1903,  partly  by  Messrs.  Wayne  Colver  and  Edward  N.  Moor. 
A  sample  ranging  from  100  to  200  e.c.  was  distilled  from  a  glass 
flask,  the  distillate  being  divided  into  fractions  as  follows : 
Below  212°  F.,  light  gasoline. 
212°  to  302°  F.,  heavy  gasoline. 
302°  to  518°  F.,  kerosene  stock. 
Residue  above  518°  F.,  fuel  oil. 

The  residue,  which  would  be  approximately  equal  to  the  residue  left 
in  practice  where  all  kerosene  and  lighter  oils  were  taken  out,  was 
cooled,  the  gravity  noted,  and  the  lubricating  stock  then  evaporated 
off  in  an  open  pan,  until  an  asphalt  of  D  grade  (about  50°  D.  C.  scale) 
remained. 

This  method  is  rapid  and  convenient,  but  has  two  notable  draw- 
backs— the  lubricants  are  lost  in  the  open  evaporation,  and  so  no  infor- 
mation is  gained  as  to  the  behavior  of  the  heavy  end  of  the  oil  on  dis- 
tillation, and  the  percentage  of  asphalt  obtained  on  open  evaporation 
is  greater  than  is  realized  in  distillation,  owing  to  oxidation  of  the 
heavier  oils.  The  figures  for  asphalt  so  obtained  seem  to  be  uniformly 
too  high  by  about  twenty  per  cent  of  the  yield,  so  that  if  the  asphalt 
percentages  given  in  this  series  are  reduced  by  one  fifth,  the  actual  yield 
of  asphalt  is  closely  approximated.  This  deduction  is  made  in  each 
case  where  such  figures  are  presented. 
Analyses  Having  Numbers  Between  3400  and  3499. 

These  analyses  were  made  b^'  the  writer,  according  to  the  following 
method : 

First  distillation  was  made  in  glass,  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the 
series  above.  The  residue,  instead  of  being  evaporated  down,  was 
poured  into  a  small  iron  still,  and  reduced  in  vacuum  to  a  grade  some- 
what softer  than  D,  the  amount  of  distillate  to  be  taken  off  being  esti- 
mated from  the  gravity  of  the  residue  taken.  The  asphalt  was  then 
reduced  to  grade  by  open  evaporation,  in  the  same  manner  as  above, 
but  by  taking  the  asphalt  nearly  to  grade  in  the  still  the  error  due  to 
oxidation  is  greatly  reduced,  though  the  results  are  still  a  shade  too 
high. 

The  distillate  from  these  residues  (lubricating  stock)  was  then  reduced 
in  an  iron  still,  in  vacuum,  by  an  amount  calculated  to  bring  it  to  green 
oil  of  about  18°  Beaume,  though  in  practice  the  gravity  of  the  reduced 
stock  varies  considerably.  It  will,  of  course,  be  understood  that  it  is 
quite  impossible  to  withdraw  samples  during  the  distillation,  as  is  done 
in  actual  still  running,  so  that  the  amount  of  distillate  to  be  removed 
to  get  a  certain  gravity  of  residue  must  be  guessed  at. 


.METHODS    OF    OIL    ANALYSIS.  19 

The  same  difficiilty,  of  withdrawing  samples,  applies  also  to  the  dis- 
tillation of  crude  to  asphalt,  and  in  laboratory  practice,  where  attempt 
is  made  to  run  a  small  sample  down  to  any  given  grade  of  asphalt,  the 
resulting  product  often  varies  so  widely  from  the  standard  in  hardness 
that  the  results  as  to  quantity  are  quite  valueless.  This  difficulty,  in 
the  case  of  asphalt,  may  be  gotten  around  in  several  ways — ^first,  to 
reduce  the  residue  in  an  open  pan,  as  above,  testing  constantly,  which 
makes  it  possible  to  get  even  grades,  but  requires  a  correction  for  oxida- 
tion ;  second,  to  carry  nearly  to  grade  in  the  still,  and  then  reduce  in  a 
pan,  which  much  reduces  the  error  caused  by  oxidation,  but  does  not 
obviate  it  entirely,  and  is  also  very  tedious ;  third,  to  reduce  in  the  still 
to  as  near  grade  as  possible,  test  the  penetration,  and  correct  for  hard- 
ness according  to  a  set  percentage-penetration  scale,  and  last,  to  reduce 
the  oil  to  dry  coke  and  calculate  back  to  asphalt.  By  making  the  proper 
allowances,  any  of  these  may  be  made  to  give  accurate  results,  but  it  is 
not  too  much  to  say  that  a  test  made  by  reducing  to  grade  in  the  still 
without  penetration  test  and  correction  is  of  verj*  slight  quantitative 
value. 

The  method  given  above  is  an  improvement  on  the  one  preceding, 
but  is  still  defective  in  that  it  loses  a  small  portion  of  the  lubricants, 
and  thus  disturbs  both  gravitj^  and  proportion  of  that  fraction.  The 
vacuum  distillations  were  also  found  very  tedious  where  a  number  of 
samples  were  to  be  tested. 
Analyses  Having  Numbers  Between  7400  and  7499. 

These  analyses  were  made  by  ]\Ir.  H.  N.  Cooper,  and  published  in 
Bulletin  31  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau.  All  were  made  by  distillation 
in  glass  flasks,  dividing  the  distillate  into  temperature  fractions,  and 
running  the  heavy  end  of  the  oil  to  asphalt  in  a  manner  calculated  to 
carry  decomposition  to  the  limit.  Full  description  of  the  methods  fol- 
lowed may  be  found  in  Bulletin  31,  and  also  in  the  final  insert  table  in 
Bulletin  32  of  the  Bureau.  For  the  purposes  of  the  present  Avork.  these 
figures  have  been  recalculated  as  follows : 

The  temperatures  given  by  ^Nlr.  Cooper  in  degrees  Centigrade  have 
been  converted  into  degrees  Fahrenheit,  the  latter  scale  being  solely  used 
in  the  oil  trade. 

Heat  values  have  been  converted  from  calories  to  British  thermal 
units  for  the  same  reason — that  the  British  standard  is  in  general  use 
among  engineers,  while  the  more  rational  French  standard  is  not. 

Fractions  are  given  in  Mr.  Cooper's  original  figures  (converting 
Centigrade  to  Fahrenheit  degrees,  and  specific  gravities  into  the  more 
readily  understood  Beaume),  and,  following  these,  the  various  arbitrary 
fractions  are  calculated  roughly  to  commercial  products  of  standard 
gravities,  to  facilitate  comparisons  with  the  other  analyses  given.    Such 


20  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

calculated  percentages  are  little  more  than  estimates,  but  probably  will 
be  more  informing  than  the  original  arbitrary  figures. 

Mr.  Cooper's  sulfur  percentages  are  from  the  residues  of  combustion 
in  an  oxygen  bomb.  Gravities  are  by  picnometer  weights.  Viscosities 
are  by  the  Redwood  instrument,  which,  when  standardized  with  water, 
compares  well  with  the  Engler  used  for  the  other  samples.  Flash  tests 
are  by  the  Abel  closed  tester,  and  do  not  compare  with  the  open-cup 
tests  standard  in  the  trade,  being  very  much  lower. 

The  distillations  are  accurate  in  the  lighter  portions,  but  the  method 
of  distillation  followed  (using  a  glass  flask,  and  running  up  to  tempera- 
ture two  or  three  times) ,  entirely  destroys  the  identity  of  the  lubricating 
end  of  the  oil,  and  makes  this  portion  of  the  analysis  of  very  small 
value.    It  also  seriously  affects  the  percentage  of  asphalt. 


Figure  3 

OIL  TEST  STILL 
For  Dlatllllng  Samples 


PIRIE,    SULPHUR    MOUNTAIN    AND   OJAI    WELLS.  21 


CHAPTER  III. 

PIRIE,  SULPHUR  MOUNTAIN  AND  OJAI  WELLS. 

Ventura  County. 

From  the  city  of  Ventura,  in  the  county  of  that  name,  to  Newhall. 
in  western  Los  Angeles  County,  a  succession  of  producing  localities  is 
found  on  both  sides  of  the  Santa  Clara  River,  and  in  two  locations  in 
the  hills  north  of  Simi  Valley.  These  deposits  follow  the  foothills  of 
the  San  Rafael  Mountains  from  the  banks  of  Ventura  River  to  Piru 
Creek,  but  have  not,  up  to  this  time,  been  traced  farther  to  the  east,  nor 
have  many  direct  indications  of  oil  been  found  in  the  mountainous 
country  west  of  Ventura  River. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  Santa  Clara,  production  commences  farther 
east,  the  most  westerly  developments  up  to  this  time  being  at  Bards- 
dale,  south  of  the  town  of  Fillmore,  and  from  here  oil  has  been  developed 
at  intervals  to  a  point  somewhat  east  of  Newhall.  The  two  producing 
localities  on  the  north  side  of  Simi  Valley  are  south  of  the  town  of  Piru, 
and  of  the  Tapo  and  Torrey  wells. 
Topography. 

The  Santa  Clara  Valley  is  a  river  wash  of  no  great  width,  being  per- 
haps three  miles  wide  at  Santa  Paula,  a  mile  at  Piru,  and  averaging 
less  than  half  a  mile  farther  east.  The  river  itself  is  a  winter  stream, 
carrying  little  or  no  water  in  summer,  but  subject  to  heavy  floods  during 
the  rainy  season,  and  has  the  wide,  sandy  bed  characteristic  of  such 
streams. 

The  hills  north  of  the  river  are  in  the  main  quite  abrupt,  the  rolling 
hills  usually  found  in  this  part  of  the  State  being  noted  only  near  Ven- 
tura River.  North  of  Fillmore  and  Piru,  the  lowest  of  the  hills  are 
steep  and  rugged,  while  those  farther  north  are  mountains  of  consider- 
able magnitude.  The  steep  pitch  of  the  hillsides  and  the  sharpness  of 
the  canons  have  much  retarded  prospecting  in  this  part  of  the  field. 

South  of  the  river,  and  particularly  to  the  west  of  Tapo  Caiion,  the 
hills  are  more  rounded,  and  on  the  Simi  side,  at  least,  quite  accessible, 
though  somewhat  abrupt  on  their  northern  face.  East  of  Tapo  the 
extreme  roughness  noted  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  is  again  mani- 
fest, and  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pico  Canon  the  country  is  so  rugged 
that  a  number  of  oil-well  sites  are  inaccessible  by  road,  and  reached 
only  by  trails. 
Climate. 

The  climate  of  this  territory  is  a  compromise  between  that  of  the 
coast  and  that  of  the  interior.  The  entire  region  is  rainless  in  summer, 
but  at  the  lower  end  of  the  valley  the  heat  is  much  moderated  by  con- 


22  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHEKN    CALIFORNIA. 

staut  sea  breezes  and  occasional  fogs.  Farther  east  the  climate  much 
resembles  that  of  the  lower  San  Joaquin,  being  extremely  hot  in  summer, 
and  dry  at  all  seasons.  As  a  whole,  the  climate,  which  is  delightful  at 
the  western  end  and  in  the  higher  hills,  is  tolerable  in  the  least  favored 
portion,  and  healthful  in  all  parts  of  this  area. 
Geology. 

The  geology  of  this  region,  in  its  broader  aspects,  has  been  thoroughly 
covered  in  previous  works,  and  may  be  dismissed  here  with  a  word  as 
to  two  salient  features  which  sharply  distinguish  this  territory  from 
any  other  producing  district  of  the  State,  both  of  these  features  having 
a  material  bearing  on  the  prevailing  methods  of  operation,  on  the  char- 
acter of  oil  produced,  and  on  the  prospects  for  extension  of  known 
territory. 

The  first  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the  geology  of  this  area  is 
the  predominating  quantity  of  hard  and  close-grained  rocks  in  forma- 
tions of  all  ages  except  the  very  latest.  Clays  and  shales  are,  it  is  true, 
found  in  some  quantity  over  most  of  this  area,  but  even  these  are,  as  a 
rule,  thoroughly  compacted,  and  the  sandstones  are  uniformly  hard  and 
close  grained,  merging  into  quartzites  in  the  lower  members.  The  pre- 
vailing hardness  of  the  rocks  penetrated  brings  about  two  important 
results,  the  first,  that  a  large  part  of  the  drilling  troubles  encountered 
in  the  soft  rock  fields  (such  as  the  San  Joaquin  Valle^^  are  here 
unknown.  This  is,  to  a  certain  extent,  offset  in  practice  by  the  boulder 
strata  found  in  some  of  the  later  and  upper  formations,  and  by  the 
inclination  of  the  strata,  but  it  is  yet  a  fact  that  the  absence  of  quick- 
sand, running  oil  sands,  sticky  clays,  and  caving  shales  make  both 
drilling  and  production  much  cheaper  in  this  district  than  in  those  of 
heavier  production  and  softer  formation.  The  second  result  is  that 
over  almost  the  M^hole  of  this  area  the  production  of  individual  w^ells 
is  small,  fifty  barrels  per  day  being  considered  a  large  production,  and 
the  average  being  a  fraction  of  this  amount.  This  again  is  offset,  in 
many  cases  at  least,  by  the  high  quality  of  the  oil  produced,  and  by  the 
unusually  low  cost  of  maintenance  and  operation  which  follow  from 
production  out  of  hard  sands. 

The  other  characteristic  feature  of  this  district  is  the  very  unusual 
degree  of  folding  and  faulting  to  which  the  rocks  have  been  subjected. 
At  least  two  great  faults,  and  numberless  minor  ones,  are  found  here, 
and  while  a  modified  anticlinal  structure  may  be  traced  at  many  points, 
and  has  a  certain  connection  with  the  location  of  the  oil  deposits,  these 

A  valuable  collection  of  data  and  observations  as  to  the  geology  of  the  Ventura- 
Newhall  district  may  be  found  in  "The  Santa  Clara  Valley  Oil  District,"  by  the  late 
Geo.'  H.  Eldridge.  published  in  Bulletin  309  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey. 
A  number  of  interesting  notes  as  to  the  structure  and  de\'Blopments  at  various  points 
in  this  district  will  be  found  in  Bulletin  19  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau 
by  W.  Li.  Watts. 


PIRIE,    SULPHUR   MOUNTAIN    AND   OJAI    WELLS.  23 

anticlines  are  most,  if  not  all,  considerably  faulted,  and  it  is  highly 
probable  that  a  true  anticline,  in  the  sense  of  the  unbroken  arch  found 
in  many  of  our  fields,  does  not  exist  over  the  entire  area  in  question. 
It  follows  from  this  that,  because  of  the  steep  and  variable  inclination 
of  the  producing  strata,  the  oil-yielding  districts  are  disconnected,  and 
of  small  area,  and,  the  limits  of  each  pool  being  reached,  the  question 
of  the  possibility  and  direction  of  extension  is  uncertain  in  the  extreme. 
As  a  rule,  the  existence  of  productive  formations  is  probably  indicated 
by  seepages,  which  are  extremely  numerous,  and  from  which  all  the 
productive  areas  have  been  traced,  but  over  the  extensive  areas  which 
do  not  shoAv  seepages  the  location  of  prospect  wells  is  a  very  difficult 
matter,  and  large  sums  have  been  spent  in  unsuccessful  work  of  this 
nature.  The  extremely  variable  character  and  value  of  the  oil  pro- 
duced is  also  due  to  this  excessive  fracturing,  oils  of  the  most  divergent 
qualities  often  being  produced  within  a  very  small  area,  or  even  from 
the  same  well. 

These  points  will  be  dwelt  on  at  more  length  in  describing  the  differ- 
eut  sections  of  this  district,  but  for  the  present  it  will  be  sufficient  to 
emphasize  the  fact  that  this  district  is  not,  in  any  sense,  a  single  oil 
field,  but  is  rather  a  succession  of  small  pools,  some  of  which  may,  but 
many  of  which  apparently  may  not,  be  connected  by  later  developments. 
Subdivisions. 

Because  of  the  variability  above  pointed  out,  it  is  impossible  to  give 
any  adequate  description  of  this  district  as  a  whole,  and  yet  a  satisfac- 
tory scheme  of  division  is  difficult.  In  presenting  the  following  notes, 
a  scheme  has  been  adopted  which,  while  not  perfect,  seems  to  make 
reference  as  easy  as  is  possible  under  all  the  circumstances.  This  divi- 
sion is  as  follows : 

Townships  4-24,  4-23,  4-22,  and  3-23.    This  includes 
Wells  west  of  Ventura  River. 
The  Pirie  wells,  near  Nordhoff. 
Wells  in  Ventura  River  Valley. 
The  Sulphur  Mountain  wells. 

The  Ojai  wells,  which  have  not  yet  been  connected  with  those  of 
the  Silverthread  group.  The  Burrows  and  Aliso  wells,  on  the 
Ex-Mission,  which  fall  into  this  township,  are  reserved  for  the 
next  group,  because  of  their  plain  connection  with  the  Adams 
and  Saltmarsh  wells  farther  east. 
Township  4-21.     This  includes 

The  Slocum,  Adams,   Tar  Flat.   Saltmarsh,   Burrows,   and  Aliso 

wells,  on  the  Ex-Mission. 
The  Silverthread  group  of  wells,  along  the  north  bank  of  Sisar 
Creek. 


24  PETROLEUM   IN   SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

The  O'Hara  wells,  on  the  east  side  of  Santa  Paula  Canon. 
The  Empire  wells,  and  three  or  four  prospect  holes  adjacent,  but 
situated  in  township  4-20. 
Township  5-20.     This  includes 

The  heavy  oil  wells  of  the  upper  Big  Sespe,  which  have  not  been 
connected  with  the  Tar  Creek  wells  farther  east. 
Townships  5-19  and  4-19.     These  cover 

The  Tar  Creek,  Squaw  Flat,  and  Little  Sespe  wells,  which  appear 

to  belong  to  a  single  formation. 
A  few  scattering  prospect  holes  along  lower  Sespe  Caiion,  in  4-20 

and  4-19. 
The  Hopper  Caiion  wells. 
Townships  3-20  and  3-19. 

These  include  the  Bardsdale  wells  only. 
Townships  4—18  and  3-18.    These  include 
The  Modelo  wells. 
The  Temescal  wells  and  a  number  of  prospect  holes  to  the  east  of 

the  Temescal  and  covering  the  western  part  of  4r-19. 
The  Torrey  wells. 
The  Tapo  wells. 
The  Eureka  wells. 
The  Simi  wells. 

Townships  4-24,  4-23,  4-22,  and  3-23. 

The  valley  of  Ventura  River  lies  along  the  western  side  of  township 
4-23,  this  river  running  from  north  to  south,  and  draining  into  the 
Pacific  Ocean  at  San  Buenaventura.  Ventura  River  rises  in  the  main 
range  of  the  Santa  Ynez  Mountains,  which  follow  the  coast,  lying 
almost  due  east  and  west,  from  Concepcion,  in  Santa  Barbara  County, 
to  the  Ventura  County  line,  and  which,  under  the  name  of  San  Rafael 
Mountains,  are  continued  quite  across  that  county.  At  the  western 
border  of  this  county,  a  spur  takes  off  to  the  southeast,  Casitas  being 
at  or  near  the  pivotal  point,  and  continues  as  far  as  Santa  Paula  Creek, 
where  it  again  merges  with  the  main  range.  Ojai  Valley,  lying  east 
and  west  between  these  two  ranges,  is  distinctly  a  valley  of  formation, 
that  is,  its  origin  is  due  to  earth  movements,  while  the  narrow  valleys, 
hardly  more  than  caiions,  of  Ventura  River  and  Santa  Paula  Creek, 
are  plainly  eroded  channels,  cutting  as  they  do  across  the  strike  of  the 
formation. 

The  mountains  to  the  west  of  Ventura  River  are  of  somewhat  later 
age  than  the  formations  of  the  main  Santa  Ynez  range,  and  in  their 
lower  portions,  at  least,  consist  of  unaltered  sedimentary  rocks.  No 
direct  indications  of  petroleum  have  been  found  in  these  mountains, 
and  while  some  results  have  been  claimed  for  wells  drilled  near  Casitas 


PIKIE,    SULPHUR   MOUNTAIN    AND   OJAI    WELLS.  25 

and  on  Chismahoo  Mountain,  these  reports  are  not  so  conclusive  as 
might  be  desired,  and  this  territory  must  for  the  present  be  considered 
as  untested. 

Ojai  Valley  is  a  rather  flat  table-land,  lying  some  seven  hundred  feet 
above  sea  level,  and  extending  to  the  west  beyond  the  bounds  of  town- 
ship 4-23.  At  this  point  the  width  is  some  three  miles,  at  Nordhoff 
perhaps  one  and  one  half  miles,  and  some  two  miles  to  the  east  of  this 
town  the  lower  valley  terminates  in  a  low  ridge,  ranging  from  north- 
west to  southeast,  and  lying  between  San  Antone  Creek  and  Lyon 
Creek.  This  is  a  well-watered,  fertile,  and  prosperous  valley,  consisting 
of  pasture  lands  studded  with  oaks,  and  of  highly  cultivated  fields  and 
orchards. 

Upper  Ojai  Valley  is  separated  from  the  lower  valley  by  the  ridge 
just  mentioned  (which  is,  indeed.,  hardly  noticeable  at  its  eastern  side), 
and  lies  much  higher,  being  from  fourteen  hundred  to  fifteen  hundred 
feet  above  sea-level.  The  drainage  crest  of  this  valley,  which  is  imper- 
ceptible to  the  eye,  lies  near  the  west  line  of  section  12,  4-22,  drainage  to 
the  east  being  down  the  caiions  of  Sisar  and  Santa  Paula  creeks.  At  its 
western  and  wider  end,  the  upper  valley  is  some  two  miles  wide,  and 
drains  into  Lyon  Creek— it  consists,  like  the  lower  valley,  of  orchards 
and  grain  land,  and,  like  that  valley,  has  a  mild  and  delightful  climate. 

The  foothills  of  the  San  Rafael  and  Santa  Ynez  mountains  follow 
closely  the  northern  limits  of  these  townships,  and  toward  the  east  are 
known  particularly  as  the  Topa-Topa  Mountains.  These  are  very  steep 
and  rough  hills,  crossed  only  by  trails,  and  consist  of  unaltered  or 
locally-altered  sedimentary  formations,  having  a  prevailing  dip  to  the 
north,  i.  e.,  into  the  mountain.  The  whole  northerly  boundary  of  these 
two  valleys  is  undoubtedly  due  to  a  profound  fault.  As  this  northerly 
dip  exposes  the  edge  of  all  strata  to  a  very  considerable  depth,  it  is 
probable  that  the  absence  of  seepages  in  these  hills  is  a  safe  indication 
of  the  absence  of  petroleum  along  the  upthrust  side  of  this  fault,  though 
the  possibility  remains  that  such  deposits  may  be  found  in  the  later 
and  upper  deposits  further  to  the  north.  On  account  of  the  inaccessi- 
bility of  this  territory,  it  has  been  but  little  prospected,  and  the  strip 
of  mountain  country  lying  between  Matilija  and  Cuyama  Valley  is 
probably  as  little  knovm  as  any  part  of  the  United  States. 

Sulphur  Mountain  is  a  ridge  of  considerable  height  (varying  between 
2500  and  2750  feet)  and  of  very  peculiar  formation  and  appearance. 
The  formation,  which  will  be  described  in  more  detail  in  a  later  para- 
graph, consists  in  brief  of  an  upthrust  fault  both  north  and  south,  with 
a  pronounced  synclinal  arch  between.  In  other  words,  of  a  long  and 
narrow  block  raised  several  hundred  feet  above  the  surrounding  country, 
and  depressed  along  its  main  axis.    At  the  east,  this  ridge  terminates 


26  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

abruptly,  probably  by  faulting  at  Santa  Paula  Creek,  while  at  the  west 
it  is  gradually  depressed,  and  loses  itself  in  the  formless  group  of  hills 
east  and  south  of  San  Antone  Creek.  This  ridge  is  thus  distinguished 
by  being  of  an  age  and  a  structure  quite  distinct  from  those  of  the  valley 
to  the  north  and  the  rolling  hills  to  the  south,  by  its  very  steep,  indeed 
almost  precipitous  sides,  and  by  many  of  its  caiious  having  a  general 
direction  parallel  to  the  axis,  the  latter  a  most  unusual  occurrence. 

South  of  Sulphur  Mountain  is  an  area  of  rolling  hill  land,  embraced 
in  the  Ex-Mission  and  Canada  Larga  grants,  and  extending  to  the 
south  as  far  as  the  Santa  Clara  River.  This  territory  is  more  fully 
described  under  township  4-21. 

We  thus  have  within  the  limits  of  these  two  townships  six  distin- 
guishable areas,  of  which  four  have  produced  oil,  as  follows : 

The  mountainous  area  west  of  Ventura  River — some  developments, 
but  no  discovery. 

The  mountainous  area  north  of  the  two  valleys — no  developments  and 
no  apparent  prospects. 

Low^er  Ojai  Valley — discovery  on  the  Pirie  Ranch,  near  Nordhoff,  but 
no  present  production. 

Upper  Ojai  Valley — production  from  the  so-called  Ojai  wells. 

Sulphur  Mountain — discoveries  on  the  main  ridge,  in  4-22,  and  in 
Lyon  Cafion,  but  no  present  production. 

Ex-Mission  tract,  with  scattered  but  long-established  production. 
Wells  West  of  Ventura  River. 

Four  wells  drilled  just  east  of  Rincon  Creek,  though  in  Ventura 
County,  belong  properly  to  Santa  Barbara  County  developments,  and 
will  be  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  south  coast  of  that  county. 

Arctic  Oil  Company.  Drilled  two  wells  on  the  east  flank  of  Chis- 
mahoo  Mountain,  on  the  west  of  Coyote  Creek.  The  first  was  in  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  8,  4-24,  was  drilled  in  1897  to  a  depth  of 
1669  feet,  and  is  reported  as  a  dry  hole. 

No.  2  was  drilled  in  1898,  and  was  approximately  2000  feet  deep. 
This  well  w^as  reported  as  having  had  a  trace  of  oil,  though  parties  con- 
cerned in  drilling  the  well  deny  this.  This  well  was  located  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  5.  4-24.  Both  these  wells  were  in  the  high 
hills,  at  an  elevation  of  nearly  3000  feet. 

Western  Coast  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  two  wells  in  the 
hills  east  of  Casitas  Pass.  No.  1  was  in  section  34,  4-24,  east  of  the 
pass,  and  south  of  the  Ventura  Road.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1900,  to 
a  depth  of  about  1500  feet,  and  is  reported  as  a  dry  hole. 

No.  2  was  drilled  in  1901,  at  the  junction  of  Willow  Creek  and  Coyote 
Creek,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  36,  4-24.  This  well  was 
1635  feet  deep  and  w^as  abandoned  on  account  of  caving  formation. 


PIRIE,    SULPHUR    MOUNTAIN-    AND    OJAI    WELLS. 


27 


It  baled  enough  oil  near  the  bottom  to  enable  the  collection  of  small 
samples,  and  was  considered  an  encouraging  prospect. 

A  well  is  reported  to  have  been  drilled  in  Canada  del  Diablo,  on  the 
Canada  de  San  Miguelito  Rancho,  section  29,  3-23.     No  information 
could  be  had. 
Pirie  Wells. 

The  tract  on  which  these  wells  are  located  is  known  as  the  Pirie  Tract, 
in  sections  12,  13,  and  14,  4  N.  23  W.,  and  in  7  and  18,  4  N.  22  W.  (See 
Figure  5.)  This  tract  approximates  1200  acres  in  area,  and  is  located, 
geographically,  at  the  western  end  of  Sulphur  Mountain,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  lower  Ojai  Valley,  at  the  mouth  of  Lyon  Cafion,  and  on  the 
southeast  bank  of  San  Antone  Creek. 


The  central  portion  of  the  ranch  consists  of  a  flat  valley,  or  swale, 
sloping  gently  toward  the  northeast.  This  valley  terminates  at  the 
south  in  a  low,  rounded  ridge,  which  divides  it  from  Lyon  Canon.  At 
the  west  end  of  the  property  is  a  hill  some  450  feet  in  height  (above 
the  valley  floor)  sloping  gently  to  the  south,  and  sharply  to  the  north 
and  west,  dividing  the  valley  from  San  Antone  Creek. 

Tar  Caiion  lies  at  the  northern  foot  of  this  hill,  and  north  again  lies 
a  lower  rounded  hill,  sloping  gently  to  San  Antone  Creek  on  the  north. 

East  of  the  valley  lies  the  foot  of  Sulphur  Mountain,  rising  sharply 


28  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHEEN    CALIFOENIA. 

at  most  points,  but  folded  into  synclinal  structure,  which  leaves  a 
wide  canon  roughly  parallel  to  the  southeast  property  line.  The  other 
canons  in  these  hills  are  short  and  abrupt,  and  the  hills  themselves  are 
steep  and  brush-covered.  The  principal  elevation  is  noted  on  Figure  5 
as  Hill  "A." 

Every  portion  of  this  tract,  excepting  the  extreme  southwest  corner, 
drains  into  the  central  swale,  and  thence  into  San  Antone  Creek  on 
the  north,  and  also,  by  means  of  Tar  Cafion,  into  the  same  creek  on  the 
west.  An  imperceptible  divide  separates  the  drainage  of  the  two  ends 
of  the  swale.    The  topography  is  illustrated  by  Figure  5. 

Seven  wells  have  been  drilled  within  the  bounds  of  the  Pirie  Tract, 
and  one  just  across  San  Antone  Creek  to  the  northwest.  These  were  as 
follows : 

Fhiladelplhia-Califorma  Petroleum  Company,  a  well  on  the  P.  T. 
Hobson  Tract.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1864,  and  cased  at  the  surface 
with  a  most  remarkable  cast-iron  pipe,  about  eight  inches  in  diameter 
and  an  inch  thick — this  is  still  visible.  This  well  was  abandoned  at 
843  feet  on  account  of  lost  tools,  and  found  no  oil. 

Ezra  Taylor  of  Nordhoff  drilled  two  wells  in  Tar  Canon  in  1893. 
These  were  drilled  with  a  light  hand  rig,  and  cased  with  riveted  pipe. 
The  first  was  85  feet  deep,  and  was  carried  into  an  oil  sand,  which  did 
not  produce  enough  to  pump. 

The  second  well  was  drilled  in  the  same  year  to  a  depth  of  333  feet, 
and  stopped  on  entering  sand.  There  were  traces  of  oil  at  90  feet,  and, 
as  this  well  is  directly  along  the  apparent  line  of  strike  from  No.  1, 
this  was  probably  the  same  sand  found  in  that  well  at  85  feet — the  sur- 
face levels  are  practically  the  same.  On  striking  the  sand,  this  well 
commenced  to  flow  water  and  oil,  and  continued  to  flow  twenty  barrels 
of  net  oil  per  day  for  a  month  or  more,  and  thereafter  pumped  a  slowly- 
diminishing  quantity  for  more  than  a  year.  The  railroad  had  not  at 
that  time  been  built,  and  the  lessees  of  the  property  built,  in  the  follow- 
ing year,  a  pipe  line  connecting  with  the  main  Silverthread  line,  eight 
miles  distant.  This  well  was  cased  with  4-inch  riveted  pipe,  and  no 
attempt  was  made  to  shut  off  the  water  nor,  so  far  as  can  be  learned, 
to  keep  the  well  clean.  It  pumped  considerable  water  at  all  times,  and 
gradually  dwindled  to  a  small  output,  and  was  abandoned  after  the 
later  wells  failed.  It  is  probably  still  good  for  two  or  three  barrels  a 
day. 

The  third  well  was  drilled  by  the  owner  of  the  property,  John  Pirie, 
and  was  within  eight  feet  of  Taylor  No.  1,  and  apparently  down  the 
dip.  It  encountered  the  same  dry  sand  at  125  feet,  and  was  carried  to 
a  depth  of  500  feet,  in  red  rock,  without  encountering  further  indi- 
cations. 


PIRIE.    SULPIIFR    MOUXTAIN    AND    O.TAI    WKLI.S 


29 


The  fourth  well  was  started  by  John  Pirie,  aud  finished  by  the  Union 
Oil  Company  with  a  standard  rig.  This  was  twenty  feet  up  the  dip 
from  the  producing  well,  and  is  said  to  have  had  traces  of  oil,  though 
it  never  produced,  and  certainly  did  not  encounter  the  sand  which 
produced  in  the  second  well.  It  was  carried  to  about  900  feet,  finding 
gas  at  or  near  the  bottom — this  is  still  being  collected  as  it  rises  through 
the  water  and  used  for  household  purposes. 

The  fifth  well  was  drilled  by  the  Union  Oil  Company  in  1894.  and 
was  located  directly  on  the  brea  bed  in  the  bottom  of  the  caiion.  This 
well  was  drilled  to  950  feet,  and  abandoned  in  salt  water,  without 
finding  any  traces  of  oil. 

The  sixth  well  was  drilled  by  the  Union  Oil  Company  in  the  same 
year,  in  the  edge  of  the  valley  at  the  west  end  of  the  same  hill.  It  was 
abandoned  at  a  depth  reported  at  500  feet,  in  quicksand,  without  find- 
ing any  traces  of  oil. 

The  seventh  well  was  drilled  by  the  Union  Oil  Company  in  1894, 
immediately  on  the  fault  line  on  the  north  bank  of  Tar  Caiion.  No 
definite  data  can  be  had  as  to  the  results  from  this  weU,  other  than  the 
depth,  which  was  close  to  1500  feet,  but  it  is  reported  to  have  found 
traces  of  oil  at  several  points. 

The  age  of  the  formations  appearing  on  this  tract  is  given  by  Eld- 
ridge  (Bulletin  309,  U.  S.  Geol.  Sur.)  as  Eocene,  the  Middle  Sandstone 
of  the  Sespe  Series.  As  oil  is  very  much  in  evidence  at  a  number  of 
points  in  this  ^'icinity,  the  age  of  the  strata  was  considered  of  minor 
importance,  and  no  attempt  was  made  to  verify.  The  description  given 
of  these  deposits,  "brownish-red  sandstones  and  conglomerates,  with 
minor  layers  of  sandy  and  muddy  shale,"  applies  to  the  rocks  here 
observed. 

The  detailed  structure  of  this  tract  and  its  immediate  vicinity  is 
rather  complicated,  and  lacking  any  adequate  number  of  exposures,  and 

details  as  to  the  old  wells,  can 
not  be  determined  with  cer- 
tainty at  all  points  from  work 
done  up  to  this  time.  The 
main  features,  however,  may 
be  taken  as  foUows: 

The   ridge   kno-\vn   as   Sul- 
phur Mountain  has.  farther  to 
the  east,  the  structure  shown 
Figure  6.  in  Figure  6    (which  must  be 

considered  highly  generalized).     That  is,  it  is  a  syncline,  faulted  away 
at  both  sides. 

Toward  the  west  end.  however,  and  where  it  enters  this  tract,  the 
ridge  divides,  extending  one  arm  west  and  one  southwest.  The  western 
arm  terminates  along  the  east  line  of  the  Pirie  tract,  the  southwestern 


30 


PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


runs  some  distance  farther  to  the  west,  and  terminates  at  the  Ventura 

River.       Lyon     Canon     lies 

between  the  two  arms,  and 
follows  a  fault  separating 
what  ap[)ear.s  to  be  a  dupli- 
cation of  the  synclinal  struc- 
ture. The  general  structure 
down  the  township  line  sepa- 
rating 4-22  from  4-23  is 
shown  in  Figure  7,  which 
again  is  very  highly  general- 
ized. 

This  synclinal  structure  is  well  developed  at  the  eastern  end  of  the 
Pirie  tract,  and  I  can  find  no  trace  of  the  anticline  which  is  reported 
as  extending  across  the  center  of  the  tract.  While  this  is  given  by  a 
very  competent  authority,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  this  anticline  had 
been  assumed  to  extend  farther  to  the  west  than  the  facts  warrant,  prob- 
ably on  the  strength  of  examinations  made  farther  east. 

Along  San  Antone  Creek,  near  the  northwest  corner  of  this  tract, 
all  the  exposed  strata  dip  to  the  north.  •  Along  Oil  Well  Canon  they  dip 
to  the  northeast  and  southwest  respectively,  but  the  exposures  on  the 
two  sides  do  not  correspond,  and  I  consider  this  eaiion  as  exposing  a 
fault  line,  the  south  being  the  upthrow  side. 

Lyon  Caiion,  near  the  east  side  of  section  13,  shows  exactly  the  same 
structure,  and  the  formation  dips  away  sharply  on  each  side.  The 
structure  along  the  line  C-C  (Figure  5)  would  thus  be  as  in  Figure  8. 
This  is  scaled,  and  I  believe  it  to  be  accurate  in  the  main. 


Figure  S. 

At  the  west  end  of  the  tract,  the  elevation  indicated  on  Figure  5  as 
' '  Hill  B  "  is  evidently  a  fault  block,  raised  on  its  north  and  west  sides, 
Tar  Canon  following  the  north  fault  line.  Exactly  the  same  structure 
is  shown  along  Tar  Canon,  the  formation  dipping  away  in  both  direc- 
tions. Exposures  are  lacking  to  determine  the  structure  of  "Hill  C," 
but  from  the  dips  along  Tar  Caiion,  and  the  very  evident  upthrow 
along  the  south  bank  of  San  Antone  Creek  north  of  this  hill,  I  am 
inclined  to  consider  it  a  minor  fault  block,  dipping  to  the  north  at  a 


PIRIE,    SULPHUR    MOUNTAIN    AND    OJAI    WELLS. 


31 


low  angle.     The  structnre  along  the  line  D-D  would  thus  l)e  as   in 
Figure  9. 


Keferring  again  to  the  developments  south  of  Oil  Well  Canon — it  will 
be  noted  that  the  wells  known  as  Taylor  1  and  Pirie  1,  w^hich  are  but 
eight  feet  apart,  showed  a  dip  of  the  sand  of  41  feet,  or  nearly  78 
degrees.  On  all  sides  of  the  hill  where  there  are  exposures  the  dip  is 
extremely  uniform  at  21.5  degrees.  The  variation  between  these  two 
figures,  and  the  fact  that  the  fourth  and  fifth  w^ells  did  not  encounter 
the  sand  at  all,  may  be  accounted  for  in  tw'o  ways. 

The  first  is,  that  all  these  wells  were  drilled  in  a  zone  of  crushed  fault 
material,  and  did  not  enter  the  oil  formation  at  all,  No.  2  finding  merely 
a  pocket  containing  seepage 
from  sands  in  the  unbroken 
formation.     (See  Figure  10.) 

The  other  explanation  is. 
that  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  fault  the  edge  of 
the  formation  is  sharply  up- 
turned. (See  Figure  11.)  I 
prefer  this  view  for  three 
reasons — one,  that  if  the  oil 
in  No.  2  was  stray  oil,  it  i.s 
hardly  likely  that  four  other 
wells,  one  only  twenty  feet 
distant,  should  have  failed  to 
find  some  of  it.  Another, 
that  so  far  as  the  records,  and 
the  recollections  of  the  first 
driller  can  be  trusted,  these 
,  wells  were  clean  drilling,  and 
gave  no  indication  of  the 
shattering  noted,  for  instance,  in  the  Upper  Ojai  wells,  where  the  oil  is 
found  to  be  in  stringers  of  crushed  shale  in  broken  ground.     To  this 


Figure  10. 

r 

Figure  11.         ' 

-: 

11  I      III    '  11  1   ! 

32  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTIIEIW    CALIFORNIA. 

may  be  coupled  the  fact  that  the  oil  obtained  from  No.  2  was  of  high 
gravity,  and  not  the  oxidi/ed  and  debased  oil  usually  found  in  badly 
broken  formation.  And  the  last,  that  some  small  surface  exposures 
may  be  found  which  show  a  very  high  degree  of  dip  in  the  direction 
indicated,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  these  two  welLs.  The  reason  for 
No.  4  not  striking  the  sand  is  indicated  in  Figure  11.  It  must  be  borne 
in  mind  that  all  the  faulting  spoken  of  here  was  of  very  small  magni- 
tude, and  did  not  lead  to  extensive  disturbances  of  the  formation. 

But  in  either  case,  the  fourth  and  fifth  wells  were  very  evidently 
back  of  the  formation  carrying  oil,  and  the  prospects  are  all  in  the  oppo- 
site direction.  It  is  impossible  to  determine  the  exact  depth  at  which 
sands  lie,  but  in  Figure  9  I  have  estimated  from  the  data  at  hand,  and 
in  any  case  the  error  can  not  be  very  great,  assuming,  of  course,  that 
no  other  sands  lie  below  those  evidenced  on  the  surface.  Nor  can  it  be 
certain  how  far  the  productive  sands  extend  to  the  west,  but  it  is  prob- 
able that  they  reach  well  toward  the  axis  of  the  syncline  (which  is 
shallow,  and  not  likely  to  carry  much  water)  and  possibly  all  the  way 
to  the  Lyon  Cailon  fault.  A  seepage  occurs  on  the  creek  bed  in  section 
13  (see  Figure  5)  and  an  exposure  of  dry  oil  sand  just  to  the  east  of  the 
seepage,  and  on  the  south  bank.  The  Ojai  Oil  Company  drilled  for  this 
sand,  and,  finding  it  non-productive  at  this  point,  continued  to  a  depth 
of  1500  feet  without,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  the  slightest  trace  of  oil, 
and  thus  it  is  more  than  likely  that  this  seepage  is  fed  from  the  north 
side  of  the  fault — that  is,  from  the  same  sands  found  in  Oil  Well  Canon. 

The  results  from  the  sixth  well,  which  was  drilled  in  the  valley  close 
to  the  foot  of  ' '  Hill  A, ' '  raises  an  important  question  as  to  whether  this 
abrupt  western  face  of  the  hill  is  due  to  a  fault,  or  to  erosion.  There  is  no 
direct  evidence  on  this  point,  other  than  the  fact  that  there  are  no  indi- 
cations at  other  points  in  this  neighborhood  of  any  such  degree  or 
erosion,  but  as  this  well,  even  at  this  slight  depth,  should  probably  have 
penetrated  the  sands  found  in  the  second  well,  had  they  been  unbroken, 
it  is  likely  that  there  is  a  minor  fault  following  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and 
that  this  well  was  drilled  on  the  downthrust  side.  Such  being  the  case, 
there  is  no  way  of  determining  whether  oil  exists  at  any  practicable 
depth  on  the  central  part  of  this  tract. 

In  Tar  Canon  a  moderately  large  brea  bed  is  found  at  the  point  shown 
in  Figure  5,  and  on  the  south  bank  of  the  creek  is  an  exposure  of  live 
oil  sand,  thickness  of  which  can  not  be  measured.  At  two  points  along 
San  Antone  Creek,  above  the  mouth  of  Tar  Canon,  are  live  seepages  and 
exposures  of  sand,  which  at  one  point  appear  to  measure  about  ten  feet 
of  oil  sand.  Whether  this  sand  is  the  same  exposed  in  Tar  Canon  is 
uncertain,  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  it  is  not,  but  is  a  higher  sand, 
not  visible  south  of  the  caiion.     It  is  highly  probable  that  producing 


PIRIE,    SULPHUR   MOUXTAIX    AND    OJAI    WELLS.  33 

sands  will  be  found  south  of  Tar  Canon  for  a  considerable  distance, 
deepening  to  the  southward,  and  north  of  the  canon  as  far  as  San 
Antone  Creek,  deepening  to  the  eastward. 

The  seventh  well  was  drilled,  apparently,  immediately  on  the  fault 
line,  on  the  north  side  of  Tar  Caiion.  An  examination  of  Figure  9  will 
show  Avhy  this  well,  drilled  at  the  point  of  divergence  of  the  two  dips, 
could  hardly  have  produced  any  material  quantity  of  oil. 

The  only  sample  of  oil  available  Avas  from  the  second  well,  where  the 
oil  stands  part  way  up  the  casing.  This  well  has  not  been  pumped  for 
years,  and,  as  the  casing  is  open,  the  oil  has,  of  course,  lost  all  its  most 
volatile  constituents  by  evaporation.  Nevertheless,  the  gravity  is  still 
22.1°  Beaume.  The  following  is  a  proximate  analysis  of  the  oil  as  it 
stands  in  the  well : 

Kerosene 41.0°  6.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 32.9°  S.5  per  cent 

Gas  oil 26.0°  38.5  per  cent 

Lubricating  stock 23.3°  33.0  per  cent 

Asphalt   Grade  "'D"         14.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cert 

The  distillates  from  this  oil  were  very  clean  and  sweet,  and  the  lubri- 
cating stock  of  unusually  good  color  and  viscosity.  There  is,  of  course, 
no  way  to  determine  how  much  of  the  lighter  oils  originally  existed  in 
the  crude,  but  a  comparison  of  the  gravity  with  the  analysis  shows  that 
this  oil  is  not  of  the  refractory  aromatic  class  found  in  some  parts  of 
the  San  Joaquin,  but  has  the  constitution  common  to  Ventura  County 
oils — that  is,  a  high  proportion  of  middlings,  low  asphalt,  but  also  a 
low  sulfur  percentage  and  a  leaning  toward  the  aliphatic  end  of  the 
scale  in  constitution — which  gives  good  refining  qualities.  The  gravity 
of  this  oil  as  it  exists  in  the  sand  is  probably  not  far  from  26°  Beaume. 
Wells  in  Ventura  River  Valley. 

Several  wells  have  been  drilled  in  the  river  bed,  and  in  the  hills  just 
to  the  east,  resulting  in  the  production  of  some  gas  and  the  finding  of 
traces  of  oil. 

Ventura  County  Power  Company.  This  company  has  nine  wells  in 
the  bed  of  Ventura  River,  near  Casitas  Station,  producing  gas,  which 
is  piped  to  Ventura.  Eight  of  these  wells  are  closely  grouped  east  of 
the  river  and  north  of  the  county  road  bridge.  These  wells  penetrate 
pebble  formation  from  five  to  fifteen  feet  thick,  then  pass  into  shale 
carrying  salt  water  and  gas,  the  latter  being  found  from  90-  to  225-foot 
levels.  The  holes  are  not  cased,  except  for  a  conductor  at  surface,  and 
stand  full  of  salt  water,  through  which  the  gas  bubbles.  The  most 
northerly  well  has  very  little  gas.  The  total  output  of  these  wells  runs 
from  7000  to  8000  feet  daily.  All  these  wells  made  at  first  a  little  oil 
4—63 


34  i'ETi!()i.i:rM    i\  soutiikrn  cai.ifoi.'ma. 

of  very  high  j>ravity.  saitl  to  lifivc  boon  nbovo  50  Hcanine.  South  of  the 
bridge  is  a  well  some  T.")!)  foot  (h'oji,  which  got  salt  water,  but  no  gas  nor 
oil.  West  of  the  river  and  iioflli  of  1lir  i-oad  is  an  old  hole  about  wliicli 
nothing  eoidd  be  learned. 

Wcldon  Oil  Conipanii.  'IMiis  ooinpany  drilled  three  wells  east  of  Van- 
tura  River,  in  township  :i-'2:i  No.  1  was  on  Lot  2  of  Raneho  Canada 
Larga  Verde,  and  was  drilled  in  1901.  This  well  was  abandoned  at 
900  feet  on  account  of  general  mechanical  trouble. 

No.  2  was  located  close  to  No.  1,  and  was  drilled  in  1902  to  a  depth 
of  about  3200  feet.  This  hole  was  pointed,  and  is  said  to  have  been  in 
clay  for  the  entire  length.    No  oil  was  found. 

No.  3  was  located  in  fractional  section  22.  3-23.  and  was  a  dry  hole 
at  900  feet. 

Philadclpkia-California  Petroleum  Company.  AVell  No.  2  of  this 
company  was  drilled  in  1866  at  the  southwest  extremity  of  Raneho  Ojai, 
and  just  east  of  San  Antone  Creek.  This  hole  was  473  feet  deep,  in 
clay  all  the  way. 

Hardison  &  Stewart.  A  well  on  Raneho  Canada  Larga,  on  section 
1,  3-23,  is  said  to  have  been  drilled  by  these  parties,  the  predecessors  of 
the  Union  Oil  Company,  about  1870.  Depth,  1100  feet;  some  oil  at 
700  feet;  abandoned. 

Scott  Tunnel.     Probably  bored  by  the  same  people.     Is  said  to  have 
once  produced  three  barrels  daily;  still  flowing  a  little  light  oil.     Lo- 
cated just  north  of  above  well. 
Sulphur  Mountain  Wells. 

The  wells  of  the  Sulphur  ^Mountain  Group  are  found  in  sections  21 
and  22,  south  and  southwest  of  the  large  brea  bed  on  Lot  3  of  the  latter 
section.     Nine  or  more  wells  have  been  drilled,  as  follows: 

Philadelphia-California  Petroleum  Company.  At  least  one  well  was 
drilled  somewhere  near  the  brea  bed,  about  1865.  but  the  data  is  so  con- 
fused that  it  is  impossible  to  segregate  the  results  from  these  wells  and 
those  drilled  in  Silverthread.  It  is  known  that  oil  was  obtained,  though 
not  in  commercial  quantities. 

Langdell,  Newmark  dc  Eou-an.  These  wells  are  located,  No.  1  just 
south  of  the  brea  bed,  No.  2  immediately  thereon.  The  first  hole  was 
carried  to  a  depth  of  1300  feet  (date  1901)  and  is  reported  to  have 
baled  a  little  light  oil  at  800  feet.  Under  the  circumstances,  this  report 
may  well  be  questioned.  No.  2  was  drilled  in  1903.  to  a  depth  of  600 
feet,  and  made  no  discovery  after  passing  the  tar  on  the  surface. 

Sulphur  Mountain  Petroleum  Company.  The  first  well  drilled  hy 
this  company  was  finished  in  1903.  First  oil,  of  about  15°  gravity. 
was  struck  somewhere  about  1800  feet,  and  was  sufficient  in  quantity 


I'inii:.  sn. I'liri;  MorxTAiv  axi)  o.iai    wki.i.s.  35 

to  make  a  small  pumper.  Drilling  was  continued  to  21-t2  feet,  passing- 
through  some  forty  feet  of  productive  foruiation  at  the  bottom,  and  for 
a  short  time  pumped  about  eighteen  barrels  per  day  of  an  oil  of  17.6° 
gravity,  and  of  good  quality.  Whether  the  upper  oil  was  cased  off,  or 
whether  this  production  represents  both  sands,  can  not  be  learned. 
After  a  few  hundred  barrels  had  been  pumped,  water  broke  in  from 
above  in  such  quantities  that  the  hole  could  not  be  saved.  No.  2  well, 
half  a  mile  to  the  east,  was  drilled  in  the  next  year,  but  was  stopped  at 
900  feet  in  a  very  prolific  fresh- water  stratum. 

Liberty  Oil  Company.  No.  1  well  of  this  company  is  Sulphur  ]\Ioun- 
tain  No.  1,  the  Liberty  having  under  lease  a  portion  of  the  latter  com- 
pany's land.  No.  2  was  abandoned  in  the  current  year,  at  a  depth  of 
1453  feet,  because  of  mechanical  troubles  brought  about  by  excessive 
drilling  difficulties. 

Puritan  Oil  Company.  Is  drilling  on  northwest  (juarter  of  southeast 
(juarter  of  section  22. 

Atlanta  Oil  Company.  Has  just  started  to  drill  on  Lot  6  of  the 
s^me  section. 

The  surface  exposures  on  Sulphur  ]\Ioimtain  are  highly  confusing, 
and,  as  the  developments  so  far  undertaken  have  throAvn  little  light  on 
underground  conditions,  these  are  still  a  matter  of  doubt.  The  writer's 
theor}'  as  to  the  structure  of  this  very  remarkable  mountain  is  as 
follows : 

Referring  to  Figure  13,  there  is  sufficient  evidence  that  the  Aliso 
Canon  wells  were  drilled  in  a  formation  dipping  south  20°  east  or  there- 
abouts, and  inclined  at  a  considerable  angle.  It  is  also  known  that 
lietween  the  line  where  this  formation  crops  (marked  by  a  line  of 
seepages)  and  the  southern  face  of  Sulphur  ^Mountain,  there  is  a  strip 
of  very  much  broken  and  contorted  territory-.  The  Thanksgiving  well 
was  evidently  drilled  in  this  fault  zone,  which  amply  explains  why 
it  was  not  a  success,  though  it  should  probably  have  found  a  little  oil. 

On  the  steep  southern  face  of  Sulphur  jNIountaiu.  which  rises  very 
sharply  from  the  lower  hills,  all  the  exposures  dip  north  and  a  little 
west,  or,  in  other  words,  directh^  into  the  mountain,  and  just  opposite 
to  the  dip  at  the  Aliso  wells.  These  exposures  may  be  traced  for  a  long 
distance  east  and  west  of  section  22,  and  seem  to  characterize  the  entire 
ridge.  A  number  of  small  seepages  are  found  along  the  line  of  junc- 
tion between  these  upturned  strata  and  the  lower  fault  material. 

On  the  northern  side  of  the  mountain  the  exposures  are  much  fewer, 
but  at  various  places  along  the  roads  and  in  tunnels  which  have  been 
driven  into  the  northern  face,  the  dip  is  uniformly  south  and  a  little  east, 
and  at  an  angle  ranging  from  20  degrees  to  25  degrees  to  the  horizon.  A 
little  farther  to  the  north  is  again  a  belt  of  nuich  disturbed  territory, 


36 


PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


the  rocks  being  vertical  in  many  places,  and  north  of  this  line  of  dis- 
turbance the  character  of  the  rocks  changes,  and  brown  shales  found 
in  the  body  of  the  mountain  giving  place  to  whitish  chalky  shales. 

These  facts  appear  to  determine  that  the  main  body  of  Sulphur 
Mountain  is  a  "  fault  block, ' '  that  is,  an  isolated  strip  of  formation. 


Figure  13.     Showing  locations  of  Sulphur  Mountahi  Wells. 

raised  above  the  level  of  the  surrounding  rocks,  and  separated  from 
them  by  strips  of  broken  material.  "Whatever  oil-producing  formations 
may  be  found  on  Sulphur  Mountain  will,  therefore,  in  all  probability 
be  found  to  be  entirely  separated  from  the  producing  strata  north  and 
south,  except  as  small  quantities  of  oil  may  seep  across  the  fault  zones. 


PIRIE,    SULrHUK    MOUXTAIX    AND    O.TAI    WELLS. 


They  further  determine  that  the  body  of  the  mountain  is  composed 
of  two  sets  of  strata  dipping  toward  each  other,  and  meeting  along  the 
line  indicated  on  Figure  13  as  ''strike  of  syncline,"  either  in  a  fault 
line,  or  in  a  curve  or  true  syncline. 


PROFILE  ON  LINE  AB  C  D 


FIGURE    14 
THEORETICAL    SEOLOSICAL   SECTION  ACROSS    SULPHUR      MOUNTAIN 
ON  LINE  EFSH-     FI6- 13 


This  ciuestion  as  to  whether  the  inverted  arch  is  or  is  not  broken 
at  its  lowest  point  is  difficult  to  determine,  but  is  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance. As.  if  it  is  broken,  the  probabilities  are  that  the  Sulphur 
Mountain  well  went  into  a  pocket,  and  does  not  indicate  any  likelihood 
of  profitable  production  from  other  wells  in  the  same  general  neighbor- 
hood. While  if  the  syncline  is  unbroken,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that  a  strip  of  territory  nearly  a  mile  wide,  and  of  indefinite  length, 
will  be  productive. 

I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  arch  is  unbroken,  for  the  following 
reasons:  First,  that  the  parallelism  between  the  north  and  south  ex- 
posures is  so  true  that,  if  a  fault  existed  at  the  line  where  the  two  dips 
meet,  this  fault  would  of  necessity  be  several  miles  in  length.  It  seems 
incredible  that  a  fault  so  extensive  as  this  would  not  be  marked,  at  some 
points  at  least,  by  contortions  of  the  formation  along  this  line,  or  at  the 
very  least  by  a  series  of  east  and  w^est  caiions,  due  to  the  superior  erosive- 
ness  of  the  fault  breccia.  Neither  are  at  all  in  evidence,  the  canons 
(which  are  the  best  evidence  in  a  country  covered  by  deep  soil)  being 
of  a  north  and  south  trend,  with  very  shallow  east  and  west  branches, 
such  as  characterize  erosion  along  the  upturned  edges  of  shales  of  vary- 
ing hardness. 


38 


1!\     CALIl-OKNIA. 


Fnrtlier,  in  drilling-  the  Sulphur  Mountain  hole,  the  drillers  noted  a 
constant  drift  to  the  south,  and  ascribe  this  to  the  dip  of  the  hard 
streaks  encountered  at  intervals.  This  condition  is  said  to  have  per- 
sisted to  the  bottom  of  the  hole,  and  determines  that  this  well  is  still  on 
the  south  dip,  or,  in  othc^r  words,  north  of  the  apex  of  the  syuclinal 
arch,  or  of  the  fault. 

In  drilling  the  Liberty  well,  however,  it  was  noted  that  there  was  no 
tendency  whatever  to  drift  in  any  direction  (the  drilling  difficulties 
in  this  hole  were  principally  casing  troubles,  due  to  excessive  water, 
caving  shale  and  very  heavy  tar  streaks),  and  as  the  operators  were 
expecting  just  this  difficulty,  and  working  under  conditions  which 
would  have  emphasized  it,  had  it  existed,  we  are  safe  in  assuming  that 
the  formations  encountered  in  drilling  this  well  were  lying  practically 
horizontal.  This  also  reduces  the  probability  of  a  fault  along  the 
synclinal  arch,  as  in  the  formation  penetrated  her(\  strongly  character- 
ized by  hard  shells,  if  the  drill  were  passing  through  brecciated  material 
there  would  be  a  very  noticeable  tendency  to  drift  in  various  directions. 
Passing  the  question  of  productiveness  of  the  formations  of  Sulphur 
Mountain  proper,  which  can  not  be  determined  with  certainty  from  the 

data  now  available,  we 
may  note  briefly  the 
extent  of  territory  to 
which  the  noted  condi- 
tions apply.  Referring 
to  Figure  15,  which  is 
drawn  to  a  uniform 
scale  of  one  fourth  of 
an  incli  to  100  feet,  it 
will  be  noted  that, 
assuming  a  dip  of  20 
degrees  from  the  Lang- 
dell  well  No.  1  to  Sul- 
phur ^lountain  No.  1, 
and  allowing  for  the 
difference  in  surface 
elevation,  the  heavy 
oil  stratum  found  in 
Sulphur  ^loiuitain  well 
at     about     1800     feet 


Figure  15 
Showing  Relation  Between 
L  ar.d  SULPHUR  MOUMTAIN  No.l  WELLS 
Scale 
V  "'^'^,"°y       Sulphur 


slKJuld  have  been  passed  in  the  Langdell  well  at  460  feet,  and  the  light 
oil  found  at  about  2100  feet  in  the  Sulphur  Mountain  well  should  have 
been  found  in  the  Langdell  well  at  800  feet.  A  report  has  been  quoted, 
that  a  light  oil  layer  was  found  at  this  depth  in  the  Langdell  well,  but 
not  sufficiently  ])roductive  to  make  a  well.    This  report  is  open  to  doubt. 


piiui;.  srr.piiT'T!  MorxTAix  axd  o.iaf  whli.s.  3;) 

but  the  probal)ility  I'lMiiains  that,  owing  to  the  proximity  of  the  fault 
line  to  the  location  of  this  well,  the  strata  which  would  otherwise  have 
been  productive  have  been  drained  of  their  oil,  locally  at  least.  In  fact, 
it  is  quite  possible  that  the  stratum  which  is  productive  in  the  Sulphur 
Mountain  ^vell  is  faulted  away  back  (that  is  south)  of  the  Langdell 
wells — the  figure  shows  the  fault  plane  as  lying  to  the  north  of  No.  1 
well,  but  it  is  niort'  than  possible  that  the  hole  actually  passed  through 
this  plane.  In  this  case,  the  upper  portion  of  the  hole  would  be  in 
broken  material  containing  streaks  of  oil.  l)ut  no  productive  strata, 
Avhile  the  lower  portion  would  pass  through  the  light  oil  sand,  in  place, 
but  drained  of  most  of  its  oil.  In  brief,  if  any  profitable  production  is 
to  be  found  in  these  formations,  the  data  probably  warrant  ils  in  placing 
its  northern  limit  a  short  distance  .south  of  the  Langdell  wells. 

As  to  the  southern  limit — it  undoubtedly  lies  north  of  the  fault  line 
shown  on  the  lower  part  of  Figure  14,  and  probably  between  this  line 
and  the  northern  limit  of  the  Ex-]Mission  grant — we  can  hardly  fix  it 
more  closely  from  present  information.  As  to  the  east  and  west  limits, 
we  can  be  guided  only  by  the  unusual  continuity  of  the  formation  in 
these  directions — it  appears  to  be  unbroken  from  near  the  west  line  of 
townships  4-22  t.).  or  nearly  to,  Santa  Paula  Creek. 

No  sample  of  Sulphur  ^Mountain  oil  is  now  available,  and  but  one 
analysis,  and  it  can  not  be  stated  with  certainty  whether  the  sample  from 
which  this  was  made  was  from  the  lower  (heavy  oil)  sand  only,  or  from 
both  sands.  Considering  the  figures  below,  the  presence  of  a  notable  per 
cent  of  volatile  distillate  in  an  oil  of  this  gravity  would,  ordinarily  at 
least,  indicate  a  mixture  of  light  and  heavy  oil,  so  it  is  probable  that 
the  well  was  drawing  from  both  sands.  The  sample  was  taken  while 
well  was  on  the  pump. 

Sulphur    Mountain    Petroleiim    Company.      Well    No.    1. 

Gravity 17.0"   Beaume 

Visco.sity  at  60°  F 81.15  Redwood  (water,  1) 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 2.05  Redwood   (water,  1) 

Flash  point Below  60°  F.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

Sulfur 1.40  per  cent 

Thermal  value 18.551  British  thermnl   units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c  distilled  in  glass  without  steam. 

Below  212°  F. 3.1  per  cent  58.0°  Beaume 

212  to  302° 4.8  per  cent  50.7° 

302  to  392° 8.1  per  cent  41.2° 

392  to  482° 7.4  per  cent  32.4° 

482  to  572° 28.8  per  cent  28.8° 

572°    to   grade 20.0  per  cent  20.5° 

Asphalt 25.0  per  cent  Grade  "D"'(  about) 

Water  and  loss 2.8  per  cent 

100.0  percent 


40  PETROLEUM    IX    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

This  corresponds,  in  round  fiyures.  to  the  following  connnci-cial 
analysis : 

Gasoline   .: 01°  Beanme  '2  per  cent 

Distillate   52°  0  per  cent 

Kerosene    _ 42°  8  per  cent 

Stove   oil   ;;4°  0  per  cent 

Fuel  oil 28°  30  per  cent 

Lubricating  stock 20.5°  20  per  cent 

Asphalt    Grade  "D"  25  per  cent 

Losses    o  pi-r  cent 

100  per  cent 

Nothing  can  1)6  said  as  to  the  equality  of  these  products.    The  oil,  how- 
ever, must  be  reasonably  stable,  to  give  a  20.5°  lubricating  distilhite 
from  a  glass  still. 
Lyon  Canon  Wells. 

Four  wells  have  been  drilled  in  Lyon  Canon,  as  follows : 

Ojai  Oil  Company.  On  southeast  quarter  of  southwest  quarter,  sec- 
tion 13,  4—23,  on  the  south  side  of  Lyon  Canon.  This  well  was  located 
immediately  under  a  well-marked  outcrop  of  dry  oil  sand,  dipping  to 
the  north,  and  after  passing  the  lower  layers  of  this  sand,  which  were 
not  productive,  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1500  feet  without  any  further 
indications. 

Olga-Ventura  Oil  Company.  Three  wells  were  drilled  by  this  eom- 
panj^,  on  land  now  held  by  the  Income  Oil  Company,  about  a  mile  above 
the  Ojai  well,  and  on  the  same  side  of  the  cailon.  No.  1  was  drilled  in 
1901,  to  a  depth  of  1300  feet,  and  for  a  time  pumped  about  ten  barrels 
per  day  of  moderately  heavy  oil.  The  production  soon  failed  and  the 
well  was  abandoned. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  surface  exposures  indicate  a  rather 
gentle  dip  to  the  east,  well  No.  2,  which  was  located  a  little  farther 
up  the  canon,  went  2100  feet  without  finding  any  oil  whatever.  It 
flowed  fresh  water  for  a  time,  and  encountered  some  gas  at  the  bottom, 
indeed  gas  is  still  bubbling  up  through  the  Avater,  which  no  longer 
flows.    Well  No.  3  was  abandoned  at  something  less  than  400  feet  in  1903. 

The  discovery  in  well  No.  1  of  this  company,  which  is  well  authen- 
ticated, suggests  the  presence  of  oil  somewhere  in  this  neighborhood,  a 
suggestion  which  is  strengthened  by  several  seepages  further  up  the 
canon.  No  data  are  available,  however,  from  which  to  forecast  the 
probability  of  commercially  valuable  oil  sands,  nor  their  location.  While 
it  can  not  be  stated  with  certainty,  it  is  probable  that  none  of  the  wells 
of  this  group  are  located  on  the  Sulphur  Mountain  syncline  proper. 

W.  J.  McMillan  of  Los  Angeles  has  a  well  on  Lot  4  of  section  30,  4r-22. 
This  well  was,  drilled  about  1901,  Avas  carried  to. a  depth  of  about  1000 
feet,  is  reported  to  have  found  some  oil,  and  was  abandoned  on  account 
of  water  trouble. 


T    ■■  ^f4  k  J 


rmiE,    SULPHUR    MOUXTAIX    AND    O.TAI    MELLS.  41 

Wells  of  the  Ojai  Group. 

The  following'  wells  have  been  drilled  in  a  group  occupying  a  posi- 
tion on  the  divide  between  the  Upper  Ojai  Valley  and  Sisar  Canon : 

Santa  Paula  Oil  Company.  Two  wells  on  the  T.  Thompson  tract, 
No.  1  being  located  on  Lot  1  of  section  11,  No.  2  somewhat  to  the  north- 
west of  this,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter.  The 
first  w^ell  is  said  to  have  been  500  feet  deep,  and  to  have  found  consider- 
able water,  but  no  oil;  the  second  well  to  have  been  about  the  same 
depth,  and  to  have  been  entirely  dry — these  wells  were  drilled  in  1901, 
and  the  project  was  abandoned,  it  is  reported,  for  financial  reasons. 
Eldridge,  however,  states  that  the  second  well  was  someAvhat  deeper  than 
the  first,  and  continues,  "It  is  reported  that  this  yielded  lighter  oil 
than  the  southern  well,  and  that  the  latter  struck  oil  similar  to  that 
encountered  in  one  of  the  Sobra  Vista  wells,  which  was  too  heavy  to 
pump."  This  raises  a  very  interesting  question,  as,  if  oil  w^as  actually 
found  in  these  wells,  which  are  undoubtedly  on  a  northwest  dip,  there 
might  be  some  hopes  of  an  extension  in  this  direction.  It  may  be  said 
thfit  there  are  noAv  no  indications  of  the  pumping  of  oil  in  the  past, 
around  either  of  these  old  wells,  and  it  seems  rather  doubtful  whether 
they  Mere  ever  productive. 

Ventura  Oil  Company,  or  Ventura  Oil  and  Land  Company.  A  well 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  11.  Noth- 
ing can  be  learned,  regarding  this  well,  which  was  apparently  drilled 
many  years  ago. 

Sohra  Vista  Oil  Company.  Four  wells  on  Lot  2  of  section  11.  No.  3 
was  a  spoiled  hole  at  300  feet.  No.  1  was  perforated  at  750  feet,  which 
was  probably  about  its  total  depth.  No.  4  was  375  feet  deep,  and  No.  2 
intermediate  between  1  and  4.  These  w^ells  w^ere  drilled  in  1901  and 
1902,  and  were  still  on  the  pump  in  1903,  but  were  abandoned  soon 
thereafter,  as  the  production  fell  away  very  rapidly.  It  is  said  that 
No.  4  w-as  the  best  producer  and  gave  the  lightest  oil,  but  as  this  was 
the  actual  state  of  affairs  on  the  Whidden  Double  lease  just  north,  it  is 
impossible  to  now'  determine  whether  the  report  has  been  borrowed 
from  that  lease — it  will  be  noted  that  the  depths  of  the  wells  correspond 
on  the  two  leases.    The  gravity  of  oil  ranged  from  11°  to  13°  Beaume. 

Whidden  Double  Oil  Company.  The  five  wells  of  this  company  were 
drilled  near  the  center  of  section  11,  No.  1  and  No.  3  being  near  the 
south  line  of  northwest  quarter  of  northwest  quarter,  and  Nos.  3,  4  and 
5  on  an  east  and  west  line  just  south  of  the  center  of  the  fractional 
section. 

Well  No.  1  was  a  dry  hole  at  1000  feet,  at  which  depth  it  caved  and 
was  abandoned.  No.  2,  lying  just  to  the  east,  was  probabty  of  a  some- 
W'hat  less  depth,  though  this  can  not  be  determined  with  certainty. 


■]2  IMri'liOl.lM'M     IN     Sori'lll'KN'    CAIJFOKMA. 

Mr.   Double  stated  to  the   wi-ilci'   iti    IfXi:?   1li;it   iicilher  of  these   wells 
obtained  any  oil  whatever. 

Well  No.  3  was  tinished  at  160  feet  iu  1900,  was  pumping  8  barrels 
per  day  in  the  latter  part  of  1908.  and  was  abandoned  during  the  next 
year.  This  well  is  again  being  operated  l)y  another  company.  The  oil 
had  a  gravity  when  fresh  of  11.8^'  Beaume. 

Well  No.  4  was  earried  to  a  depth  of  575  feet,  and  finished,  so  far 
as  eould  be  determined,  in  the  same  sand  reaehed  in  No.  3.  The  gravity 
of  the  oil  was  13.-1:°  Beaume.  and  the  production  was  less  than  that  of 
No.  3.  and  aeeompanied  by  much  water. 

Well  No.  5  was  drilled  to  a  depth  of  1005  feet,  reaching  the  same  sand, 
"^-hich.  however,  carried  only  traces  of  oil  of  a  still  higher  gravity,  and 
a  great  deal  of  water. 

Til  is  lease  is  now  operated  by  the  Ojai  Valley  Petroleum  Company. 

Ojdi  Valh  ji  l'(  troleum  Compauij.  Has  two  wells  near  the  center  of 
section  11,  and  is  also  pumping  No.  3  of  the  Whidden  Double  Oil 
Company.    This  company  also  operates  a  lease  in  the  Kern  River  field. 

Well  No.  1  of  this  company  is  immediately  to  the  north  of  Whidden 
Double  No.  4,  was  drilled  to  a  depth  slightly  in  excess  of  1200  feet,  l)ut 
is  apparently  producing  from  about  the  500-foot  level.  This  well  is 
flowing  about  one  barrel  per  day  of  13°  oil. 

Well  No.  2  was  drilled  in  1909,  and  is  south  of  Whidden  Doii])le  No.  4. 
The  depth  is  500  feet,  and  the  w^ell  is  a  very  small  producer. 

These  records,  slight  as  they  are,  seem  to  show  very  plainly  the  rela- 
tionship of  these  wells.  Just  west  of  Whidden  Double  No.  3  is  an  out- 
crop of  sandstone,  dipping  to  the  east,  and  a  small  brea  bed.  This  is 
undoubtedly  the  sand  from  which  these  wells  produce,  and  the  depths 
and  distances  of  the  Whidden  Double  wells  show  a  dip  for  this  sand 
of  about  46°  to  the  horizon.  The  Sobra  Vista  wells  do  not  follow  the 
line  of  dip  exactly,  and  the  surface  exposures  are  too  small  to  chei-k  this 
figure,  though  the  depths  of  the  Sobra  Vista  wells  agree  with  it  in 
general. 

The  Canadian  Queen  well  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  section 
reached  the  first  sand  somewhere  about  1400  or  1500  feet,  and  as  the 
dip  shown  at  the  Whidden  Double  Avells  would  reach  a  depth  of  some 
3000  feet  in  this  distance,  it  follows  that  either  the  "sands  flatten  con- 
siderably, in  the  intervening  distance,  or  else  that  a  different  forma- 
tion w^as  penetrated  in  the  Canadian  Queen  well.  That  the  latter  is  the 
case  is  probable  from  two  circumstances,  one  that  the  shallower  M-ells 
on  both  the  Whidden  Double  and  Sobra  Vista  leases  were  the  most 
prolific,  the  other,  that  lighter  oil  was  reached  in  the  deeper  wells.  Both 
of  these  facts  would  seem  to  indicate  that  these  w^ells  were  drilled  into 
a  small  fault  block,  the  more  porous  layers  of  which  had  been  bitumen- 


rilUE,    SULPHUR    MOUXTAIX    AXD    OJAI   WELLS. 


43 


ized  by  seepage  from  the  west,  and  pi'ohably  from  deposits  lyiug  on 
the  west  dip.  and  at  a  greater  depth.  No  drilling  has  ever  been  done 
on  the  west  dip.  by  means  of  which  this  point  could  be  determined,  but. 
liowever  this  may  be.  the  practical  failure  of  the  deeper  welLs  to  the 
east  of  this  group,  and  the  entire  failure  of  those  immediately  to  the 
north,  ])ars  any  extensions  in  these  directions,  and  there  do  not  appear 


,,1Vhidden-Double   i;o.3   -   160   feet 

-VThldden-Double  Ko.4    -   500   feet 
-Whidden-Double  Jio.5   - 
1005   feet 


Figure  13 

SUGGESTED  STRUCTURE 

on  East  and  West  line  across 

Section  11-4-22 


halllf/^uhmiftht  tt 


to  be  anj^  great  prusi)t'ct;s  to  tlie  .south.  A  Avell  somewhere  in  the  neigh- 
l)orhood  of  the  old  Santa  Paula  wells.  Init  somewhat  to  the  west,  and 
carried  to  a  considerably  greater  depth,  would  be  an  interesting  experi- 
ment. 

Gates  Oil  Company.  The  abandoned  hole  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
this  property  was  probably  drilled  by  the  Chillicothe  Oil  and  jNIining 
Company  in  1902.  The  depth  is  reported  as  about  700  feet,  without  a 
discovery.  The  well  of  the  Gates  Oil  Company  in  the  southeast  corner 
of  this  property  had  not.  when  visited,  reached  a  sufficient  depth  to  be 
of  interest. 

Canadian  Qn(  <  n  Oil  Conipanij.  No  information  can  l)e  had  as  to  the 
old  abandoned  well  near  the  east  line  of  this  lease — it  appears  to  be 
shallow.  Xo.  1  of  the  Canadian  Queen  Oil  Company  was  in  what 
appeared  to  be  a  prolific  oil  sand  at  a  depth  of  about  1500  feet,  in  the 
first  part  of  1911.  So  much  water  had  been  let  into  the  hole  that  it  was 
impossible  to  determine  the  value  of  the  strike. 

Canada  West  Oil  Company.  This  company  was  drilling  at  the  time, 
but  had  not  reached  the  sauds. 

Ojai  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  three  wells  on  the  Davey  and 
Bay  tracts,  in  Lot  2  of  section  12.  Xo.  1  was  drilled  in  1907.  to  a  depth 
of  1002  feet,  and  produces  about  15  barrels.    Xo.  2  was  drilled  in  1910 


44  rirruoLEUM  ix  soutjierx  califoi;n-i.\. 

to  1250  feet,  and  is  good  for  about  20  barrels.  No.  3  Avas  finished  at  the 
same  depth  in  the  latter  part  of  1910,  and  started  off  at  240  barrels  per 
day;  its  present  production  is  ]iot  known.  The  oil  from  these  wells  is 
about  15 ""  gravity. 

Santa  Maria  Crude  Oil  Company.  Has  a  well  on  the  Bay  tract,  in 
Lot  3  of  the  same  section,  started  in  1910,  and  unfinished  at  last  reports. 

Bard  Oil  tO  Asphalt  Compainj.  This  company  lias  thirteen  wells 
on  a  portion  of  the  Rancho  Ojai  lying  directly  south  of  section  12.  At 
the  beginning  of  1911,  three  of  these  Avells  were  drilling,  three  aban- 
doned, and  seven  producing.     The  records  are  as  follows : 

No.  21,  drilled  in  1907,  depth  745  feet.  This  well  produced  175  bar- 
rels the  first  day,  but  exhausted  itself  in  about  thirty  days  and  was 
abandoned.    This  is  the  farthest  south  of  any  well  in  this  group. 

No.  22,  lying  immediately  to  the  north  of  21,  was  drilled  in  the  same 
year  to  a  depth  of  600  feet.  The  reason  for  abandoning  is  not  known, 
but  it  is  generall}^  understood  to  have  l^een  a  very  small  producer. 

No.  23  is  the  next  well  north,  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  and  is  still 
producing  about  15  barrels  per  day. 

No.  24  is  one  location  north,  and  was  drilled  in  1908  to  a  depth  of 
2665  feet.  No  oil  was  found  below  the  800-foot  level,  and  the  well  is 
now  producing  some  50  barrels  from  that  depth. 

No.  25  is  one  location  farther  north,  Avas  drilled  i]i  1908,  and  is  good 
for  about  the  same  amount  at  915  feet. 

No.  26  is  in  the  same  north  and  south  line,  and  immediately  south  of 
the  ranch  line.  It  was  drilled  in  1909,  and  produces  some  30  barrels 
from  a  depth  of  1170  feet. 

No.  27  is  one  location  east  of  the  above,  was  drilled  in  1910  to  a  depth 
of  1318  feet,  and  is  good  for  about  15  barrels  per  day. 

No.  28  is  one  location  west  of  24,  and  was  abandoned  at  720  feet  in 
1910.  This  appears  to  have  been  practically  a  dry  hole. 

No.  29  is  a  location  west  of  26,  and  is  good  for  50  barrels  a  day  at 
1113  feet. 

No.  30  lies  midway  between  28  and  29,  and  is  good  for  about  30 
barrels  at  840  feet. 

Nos.  31,  32,  and  33  were  drilling  when  last  visited. 

As  the  surface  elevation  over  the  area  on  which  these  A\'ells  are  located 
is  quite  uniform,  an  examination  of  the  depths  above  recorded  throws 
some  light  on  the  dip  of  the  producing  strata.  This,  of  course,  assumes 
that  the  wells  all  penetrate  the  producing  formation  to  the  same  depth, 
but  while  this  is  likely  not  to  be  strictly  true,  it  is  also  probable  that  it  is 
quite  within  the  limits  of  accuracy  of  the  deductions  drawn. 

It  will  be  noted  first,  that  the  three  -wells  to  the  south  and  southwest 
of  the  Bard  group  were  failures,  and,  while  no  data  is  at  hand  as  to 
two  of  these  wells,  it  is  highly  probable,  considering  the  presence  of 


PIRIE.    SULPHUR    MOUNTAIN    AND    OJAl    WELLS.  45 

extensive  brea  beds  just  to  the  south,  that  the  formation  is  here  dis- 
turbed by  local  faulting.    How  far  this  may  extend  can  not  be  told. 

Figuring  from  Bard  No.  22  to  No.  26,  we  find  a  dip  of  approximately 
600  feet  in  some  1600  feet  horizontal  distance,  or  about  20  degrees  to  the 
north.  The  depth  of  the  Ojai  Oil  Company's  wells  agrees  with  this. 
From  Bard  No.  29  to  27  the  distance  is  about  1000  feet,  and  the  dip 
slightly  over  200  feet,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  from  Ojai  1  to  Ojai  2,  a 
dip  of  250  feet  is  shown  in  the  opposite  direction.  The  Canadian  Queen 
well,  still  farther  west,  is  about  400  feet  deeper  than  Bard  29,  which 
leaves  two  possibilities — first,  that  the  Bard  wells  from  21  to  26  are 
along  the  crest  of  an  anticline,  plunging  to  the  north,  and  dipping  east 
and  west — second,  that  the  main  dip  is  north,  and  that  the  variations  in 
depth  in  an  east  and  west  direction  are  due,  in  part  to  local  flexures 
in  the  formation,  in  part  to  different  penetration  into  the  sands.  It  is 
reported  that  the  Queen  well  went  farther  into  the  sand  that  any  well 
farther  east;  in  fact,  some  think  that  it  passed  entirely  through  the 
oil-bearing  layer.  It  is  altogether  probable  that  further  developments 
will  show  the  latter  ease  to  be  the  true  one — that  the  main  dip  is  to  the 
north,  and  that  the  formation  is  more  or  less  folded  along  axes  parallel 
to  the  dip,  the  troughs  of  these  folds  being  richer  in  oil  than  the  higher 
portions.  No  limit  is  set  as  to  the  extensions  to  north  and  east,  nor  to 
the  northwest  up  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  Whidden  Double  wells. 

The  upper  strata  in  this  area  is  mainly  clay  and  shale,  differing  in 
this  from  most  of  the  productive  ground  in  Ventura.  For  this  reason, 
and  because  a  great  deal  of  water  is  encountered,  drilling  conditions 
here  are  rather  difficult,  and  care  is  required.  Differing  from  the 
Wliidden  Double  wells,  the  oil  from  this  pool  is  produced  from  material 
other  than  sand — the  local  drillers  report  that  it  is  found  in  finely 
crushed  shale  of  a  brown  color,  and.  while  such  a  statement  must  be 
received  with  caution,  it  is  highly  probable  that  this  oil  is,  like  the 
lighter  oils  of  Santa  Maria,  crevice  oil,  occurring  in  the  joint  cracks 
in  more  or  less  disturbed  and  broken  shales. 

Changes  to  March  15,  1912. 

Since  the  above  paragraphs  were  put  into  type,  the  following  changes 
have  been  noted  and  corrections  made : 

Comhined  Oil  Company.  This  is  a  combination  of  the  Liberty  Oil 
Company,  the  Puritan  Oil  Company,  and  the  Atlanta  Oil  Company. 
The  Puritan  hole  has  been  continued  by  the  new  company,  and  in 
February,  1912.  was  reported  to  be  drilling  at  1453  feet. 

Puritan  Oil  Company.  Now  operating  under  the  name  Combined 
Oil  Company,  as  noted  above. 

Atlanta  Oil  Company.  This  hole  was  abandoned  during  1911  at  a 
depth  of  about  800  feet.  It  is  said  to  have  been  a  crooked  hole  at  some 
500  feet. 


40  I'lmiOLKUJI     IX    SOrTJIKHX    CAI.IKOKMA. 

Gates  Oil  Conipaxij.  Tlie  well  of  this  company  on  the  Stiirnam  tract 
has  been  abandoned,  at  about  1200  feet.  This  well  is  reported  to  have 
gotten  some  fifteen  barrels  of  oil.  with  a  great  deal  of  water  immediately 
below.  It  is  said  that  the  oil  sands  pinch  at  this  end  of  the  field,  but  it 
appears  more  likely  that  this  well  was  located  at  the  feather  edge  of  the 
water  level,  that  is,  where  the  top  of  the  sloping  sands  were  filled  with 
oil,  the  lower  part  with  water.  This  condition  was  strikingly  illustrated 
in  the  Los  Angeles  City  Field.  Avhere  the  southern  limit  of  the  field  was 
set  by  water  level. 

Caundian  Queen  Oil  Company.  This  company  was  pulling  casing 
and  preparing  to  abandon  at  the  beginning  of  the  current  year.  The 
depth  had  not  been  increased  since  last  reports.  It  is  said  that  this  well 
passed  from  oil  immediately  into  water,  and  was  probably  so  far  out 
on  the  dip  that  only  the  upper  portion  of  the  sands  contained  oil. 

Canada  West  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  suspended  when  visited, 
and  it  was  reported  as  about  to  be  abandoned.  The  depth  reached  was 
1360  feet,  and  it  is  probable  that  conditions  here  were  the  same  as  at 
the  foregoing. 

Ojai  Oil  Company.  This  company  was  just  finishing  No.  4,  at  a 
depth  of  1170  feet,  in  January,  1912.  Corrected  depth  of  No.  3  is 
given  as  1185  feet. 

Santa  Maria  Crude  Oil  Company.  Well  No.  1  was  finished  in  the 
latter  part  of  1910,  at  a  depth  of  1285  feet,  and  is  a  small  producer. 
No.  2  is  a  rig  only,  and  is  not  to  be  drilled  at  present,  w^hile  No.  3  is 
rigged  and  preparing  to  drill. 

Barel  Oil  anel.  Asphalt  Company.  Wells  No.  31  and  32  were  finished 
during  1911,  and  are  pumping.  No.  33  found  very  little  oil,  and  much 
water,  and  w^as  abandoned.  No.  34  w^as  drilling  at  about  400  feet  in 
January,  1912.     This  well  is  in  new  territory,  on  lot  3  of  section  18,  4-21- 

Quality  of  the  Oil. 

The  oil  from  the  Ojai  wells  ranges  from  11.8°  to  at  least  18.8°,  and 
possibly  higher.  The  heaviest  oils  are  from  the  wells  to  the  west  and 
south,  the  lightest  from  the  wells  farthest  to  the  northeast.  In  this 
connection,  the  following  gravities  will  be  of  interest : 

An  average  sample  from  the  Sobra  Vista  Avells,  taken  in  1903,  showed 
a  gravity  of  11.4°. 

A  sample  from  Whidden  Double  No.  3,  taken  in  1910  (well  flowing), 
was  of  13.9°  gravity. 

A  sample  from  Bard  No.  29,  taken  in  1910,  showed  the  gravity  16.4'. 

A  sample  from  Bard  No.  24,  taken  in  1910,  showed  the  gravity  13.8°. 

As  will  be  shown  by  the  following  analyses,  these  appear  to  be  normal 
oils  for  their  gravity,  of  the  usual  brown  to  black  color,  and  of  mild 
odor.     The  heaviest  are  suitable  for  alphalt  making  only,  or  for  fuel 


piRiE,  sn.PiirR  MorxTAix  and  o.iai  wells.  4( 

when  mixed  with  thinner  oil.  Those  of  medium  grade  resemble  gener- 
ally the  oils  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  but  give  rather  larger  yields  of 
light  products  than  an  oil  of  the  same  gravity  from  the  interior.  A 
few  oils  give  enough  light  products  to  render  them  fit  for  refining,  for 
which  purpose  they  are  clean  and  easily  worked.  The  following  analyses 
completely  cover  the  range  of  values : 


Whidden    Double   Oil    Company.     Well    No.   4. 
(Jiavity   13.4°    Beaume 

Viscosity  at  185°  F . 0.13  Redwood  (water,  1) 

FInsli  point 133°  F.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

Sulfur 1.48  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 1G.398  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  in  glass,  without  steam. 

Below  392°  F G.O  per  cent  42.4°  Beaume 

392  to  482° 6.1  per  cent  34.6° 

482  to  572° 18.9  per  cent  29.2° 

572°    to   grade 30.8  per  cent  27.0° 

Asphalt 38.1  per  cent  Grade  -r)"   (about) 

Loss 0.1  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  corresponds  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Kerosene 42°  Beaume  6  per  cent  (value  doubtful) 

Stove  oil 34°  7  per  cent 

Fuel  di.stillate  and  lubricants 49  per  cent 

Asphalt   38  per  cent 

100  per  cent 

The  latter  portions  of  the  distillate  are  so  thoroughly  cracked  as  to 
give  no  idea  of  quantity  or  value  of  lubricants.  The  analysis  below, 
however,  gives  some  information  as  to  this  point.  This  is  strictly  an 
asphalt-making  oil. 

IM'M. 
Whidden    Double    Oil    Company.      Wells    Nos.    3    and    4,    a    mixture. 

Gravity 11.8°   Beaume 

Distillation. 

A  small  sample  was  distilled  from  an  iron  still,  and  the  total  distillate  reduced 
with  steam.  This  gives  results  roughly  approximating  practice. 
Commercial  analysis — 

Fuel  distillate 24°     Beaume         24  per  cent 

Reduced  lubricants 17.5°  32  per  cent 

Asphalt   Grade '"D"  42  per  cent 

Losses 2  per  cent 

100  per  cent 

There  was  no  distillate  below  270°  F.,  and  therefore  no  kerosene. 
The  total  distillate  from  the  first  run  averaged  24.7°  Beaume,  which  indi- 
cated that  the  oil  is  not  unusually  tender.     The  actual  yield  of  asphalt 


48  EPTROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN:    CALIFORNIA. 

was  41.7  per  cent  by  volume,  equal  to  44.4  per  cent  by  weight,  or  153 
pounds,  net,  to  the  barrel  of  oil.  This  is  strictly  an  asphalt  oil,  and 
gives  an  unusually  large  yield. 

■14-14. 

Bard  Oil  &  Asphalt  Company.      Well   No.  27. 

Gravity 17.9°    Beaume 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  125  c.c.  distilled  in  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  latter  cuts  in  a 
stream  of  inert  gas. 

First  cut 7.2  per  cent       52.7°  Beaume 

Second  cut 11.6  per  cent       42.4° 

Third  cut —  10.0  per  cent       '',1.3° 

Fourth  cut 61.1  per  cent       22.7° 

Fixed  carbon 10.1  per  cent 

100  per  cent 

The  carbon  is  calculated  to  the  corresponding  weight  of  "  D  "  asphalt 

by  the  usual  factor,  and  the  last  cut  reduced  with  steam.    This  is  roughly 

equal  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Engine  distillate 52°  Beaume  8  per  cent 

Kerosene    42°  10  per  cent 

Stove  oil 34"  11  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28°  19  per  cent  )    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  lubricants 27  per  cent  ^       22.7°— 48% 

Asphalt Grade  "D"'  25  per  cent 

100  per  cent 

The  small  quantity  of  light  products  from  this  oil  is  of  fair  quality 
only.  The  lubricating  stock  decomposed  considerably,  and  the  reduced 
lubricating  stock,  with  a  standard  dose  of  acid,  gave  a  deep  ruby  oil 
with  fair,  dull  green  outertone.  This  oil  gives  almost  as  large  a  yield 
of  light  products  as  4442,  but  is  less  readily  refined,  and  may  be  classed 
as  a  refining  oil  of  second  grade. 

4442. 

Ojal  Oil  Company.      Well   No.  1. 

Gravity 18.8°   Beaume 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c.  was  distilled  in  copper,  as  in  4444,  and  re-run  and  calcu- 
lated in  the  same  manner. 

First  cut 11.0  per  cent           52..5°  Beaum^ 

Second  cut : 8.0  per  cent           40.6° 

Third  cut 8.3  per  cent           32.4° 

Fourth  cut 63.4  per  cent           22.5° 

Fixed  carbon 9.3  per  cent 

100  per  cent 


PIRIE.    SULPHUR    MOUXTAIX    AND    O.IAI    WELLS.  49 

This  is  equal  to  the  following  commercial  analysis,  in  round  figures : 

Engine   distillate   52°      Beaume  11  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  7  per  cent 

Stove  oil 24°  9  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28°  IS  per  cent)   Slop  distillate 

Reduced  lubricants 14.2°  32  per  cent  S      22.5°— 50% 

A.sphalt Grade  *'D"  23  per  cent 

100  per  cent 

On  large  scale  distillation  this  oil  might  yield  a  little  gasoline,  with 
correspondingly  less  engine  distillate.  It  is  a  clean,  sweet  oil,  and  runs 
readily.  The  light  products  are  of  mild  odor,  treat  out  readily  to  water 
white  and  sweet  oils,  and  appear  to  be  of  first  quality.  The  reduced 
lubricating  stock,  with  5  per  cent  acid,  yields  a  beautiful  cherry  red 
oil,  with  fine  green  overtone,  and  appears  to  be  of  the  best  quality.  This 
is  a  first  grade  refining  oil,  not  giving  a  very  large  yield  of  light 
products,  but  very  susceptible  to  treatment. 


50  TK'i'noi.iaTjr  ix  sor'i'iiKitx  calikoknia. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

EX-MISSION,  SILVERTHREAD  AND  EMPIRE  WELLS. 

Township  4-21. 

The  lack  of  information  as  to  this  township  is  so  complete  that  it 
will  hardly  be  possible  to  give  more  than  a  list  of  the  developments, 
and  a  few  scattering  remarks  as  to  their  relations.  This  lack  of  data 
is  due  to  the  large  holdings  in  this  township  of  two  corporations  which 
refuse  all  information  as  to  their  operations,  and  while  considerable 
pains  have  been  taken  to  gather  all  the  facts  available,  these  are  rarely 
sufficient  to  justify  any  broad,  general  conclusions. 

The  producing  portion  of  this  township  is  divided  into  four  areas,  as 
follows : 

A  strip  along  the  northern  margin  of  the  Ex-Mission  grant,  and 
including  (reading  from  east  to  west)  the  Slocum,  Tar  Flat,  Adams 
Canon,  Saltmarsh  Canon  Oil  Company;  and,  in  the  next  township,  the 
Saltmarsh  Canon,  Burrows  or  "Wheeler  Canon,  and  Olmstead  or  Aliso 
Caiion  wells.  All  these  are  the  property  of  the  Union  Oil  Company  or 
its  lessors. 

A  portion  of  the  eastern  end  of  the  Rancho  Ojai  and  of  the  surveyed 
land  immediately  north,  covering  wells  of  the  Hilltop,  Hillside  Crude, 
Pyramid,  and  Capitol  Crude  Oil  Companies,  and  the  Bard  Oil  &  Asphalt 
Company,  and  known  collectively  as  the  Silverthread  group. 

A  small  area  in  section  22,  containing  several  wells  originally  known 
as  the  O'Hara,  later  the  Golden  West,  wells,  and  now  the  property  of 
the  Paula  Oil  Company. 

A  strip  along  the  southern  boundary  of  sections  14  and  13,  and  extend- 
ing into  the  next  township,  the  property  of  the  Empire  Oil  Company. 

Several  other  portions  of  the  township  have  been  unsuccessfully 
prospected,  and  such  Avork  will  be  described  in  connection  with  the 
nearest  production. 

The  Topa-Topa  Mountains,  foothills  of  the  San  Rafael  Range,  cross 
this  township  from  west  to  east,  and  occupy  the  major  part  of  the 
twelve  most  northerly  sections.  Santa  Paula  Creek  rises  in  these  moun- 
tains, and,  floAving  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  takes  a  southern  trend 
in  section  9.  and  thence  flows  south  and  a  little  east.  Sisar  Creek  falls 
into  Santa  Paula  Creek  at  the  eastern  end  of  Rancho  Ojai,  its  narroAv 
valley  forming  the  eastern  end  of  that  ranch. 

Sulphur  Mountain  crosses  the  Avestern  boundary  of  the  toA\-nship  just 
south  of  Rancho  Ojai.  and,  narroAving  somewhat,  terminates  abruptly 
at  Santa  Paula  Creek.  South  of  this  mountain,  and  west  of  the  creek 
named,  is  a  region  of  rather  1oaa%  rolling  hills.  AA'hich  extends  almost 


KX-MISSIOX,    SILVERTHRHAD    AND    EMl'llU-:    AVKLLS.  51 

across  the  next  township  to  the  west  (4-22)  and  reaches  south,  grad- 
ually declining  in  elevation,  to  Santa  Clara  River. 

East  of  Santa  Paula  Creek  the  country  is  rougher,  the  hills  merging 
imperceptibly  into  the  Topa-Topa  Mountains  without  any  intervening 
valley  as  at  the  west,  the  surface  having,  as  will  be  noted  from  the 
arrangement  of  the  caiions,  a  general  trend  to  the  southwest. 
Ex-Mission  Wells. 

These  wells  occupy  a  position  near  the  upper  edge  of  the  formation 
south  of  Sulphur  Mountain,  and  dipping  toward  Santa  Clara  River  at 
a  greater  angle  than  the  surface  average.  They  are.  of  course,  south 
of  the  main  fault  forming  the  southern  boundary  of  Sulphur  Mountain, 
and  lie  very  much  lower,  being  at  an  average  height  of,  say,  1500  feet 
above  sea-level,  though  elevation  of  single  wells  varies  considerably  in 
this  rough  country.  The  hills  on  which  these  wells  are  situated  are,  in 
the  main,  rounded,  fairly  accessible,  grass-covered  on  the  slopes,  with 
brush  and  small  timber  in  the  canons,  and  some  good  farming  land  in 
the  small  valleys. 

"Olmstead  or  Aliso  Canon  wells.  These  wells  are  located  on  a  small 
mesa,  where  Aliso  Caiion  branches  north  and  south.  They  were  drilled 
by  the  late  Frank  Olmstead  in  1901  and  1902,  and  are  five  in  number. 
No.  1,  drilled  in  1901,  is  said  to  have  produced  fifteen  barrels  per  day 
for  a  time.  No.  2  was  onh'  350  feet  deep,  but  is  said  to  have  flowed 
for  several  years,  quantity  not  stated.  No.  3  was  a  producer,  as  was 
No.  4,  the  latter  1500  feet  deep,  and  a  flowing  well.  No.  5  is  reported 
as  a  dry  hole,  and  deeper  than  1500  feet.  None  of  these  w^ells  are  now 
being  worked,  though  three  are  still  equipped  wath  pumping  rig.  The 
well  farthest  to  the  northeast  and  up  the  hill  is  flowing  perhaps  a 
barrel  a  day  of  oil  described. 

Thanksgiving  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  compau}'.  in  the  center 
of  the  north  half  of  section  26,  4-22,  Avas  drilled  in  1910  by  the  Thanks- 
giving Oil  Company  of  Los  Angeles.  It  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  600 
feet,  and  is  reported  to  have  found  only  traces  of  oil — abandoned. 

C.  A.  Burroivs  &  Son — Henderson-Union  Oil  Company — Wheeler 
Caiion  ivells.  The  first  of  these  wells  was  drilled  by  Hardison  & 
Stewart,  the  founders  of  the  Union  Oil  Company,  in  the  early  eighties, 
later  wells  by  C.  A.  Burrows  &  Son  of  Santa  Paula.  The  property, 
which  is  a  lease  from  the  Union  Oil  Company  of  California,  has  lately 
passed  into  the  hands  of  E.  E.  Henderson  of  Los  Angeles,  and  is  being 
operated  under  the  name  of  Henderson-Union  Oil  Company.  These 
wells  are  located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Lot  24  of  the  EHsio  Tract, 
Rancho  Ex-Mission,  and  mainly  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
25,  4-22.     They  are  reached  by  a  road  up  Wheeler  Canon  from  the  main 


52  I'lyi'KoLKUjr  ix  sor'niiniN^  cai-Tfoknia. 

Ventura  road  near  J^atieoy.  and  are  found  Avhere  this  eaiion  forks  at 
the  foot  of  Sulplmr  Mountain.  Nine  wells  and  one  tunnel  are  located 
east  of  the  main  canon,  one  well  and  two  tunnels  up  the  northwest 
fork,  two  wells  on  the  west  side  of  the  main  canon,  and  the  old  Wheeler, 
Trask  &  Coleman  tunnel  farther  to  the  west,  and  in  the  west  fork. 
Still  farther  up  this  canon  is  a  Avell-marked  seepage  of  light  oil. 

So  far  as  is  known,  there  are  thirteen  wells  on  this  tract,  depths  of 
but  two  of  which  are  known.  No.  5,  drilled  in  1902,  is  a  producer  at 
something  over  600  feet.  No.  6,  drilled  in  1903,  is  a  producer  at  958 
feet.  It  is  said  that  these  wells  all  lie  between  600  and  1000  feet  in 
depth,  and  that  the  five  producers  are  good  for  perhaps  1000  barrels 
per  month  in  all.  In  the  latter  part  of  1910,  seven  were  abandoned, 
five  producing,  and  one  was  being  drilled  by  the  new  lessees. 

There  are  also  four  tunnels  on  this  property.  The  shallowest  is  the 
"Wheeler,  Trask  &  Coleman  tunnel,  in  the  west  fork.  This  was  dug  in 
1861.  it  is  said,  and  was  originally  good  for  sixty  barrels  per  day, 
though  now  making  from  two  to  three  barrels.  The  Garrett  tunnel,  the 
farthest  northwest,  is  640  feet  long,  and  is  now  producing  about  three 
barrels.  This  was  dug  in  1875.  Both  the  others  make  some  oil,  but 
the  lengths  are  unknown. 

The  effect  of  production  from  tunnels  on  the  analysis  of  the  oil  is 
shown  very  plainly  on  comparing  analyses  7412  and  7413.  These  oils 
are  without  doubt  practically  the  same  before  production,  and  even 
as  produced  the  gravit>'  differs  but  one  and  one  tenth  degrees,  yet  the 
gasoline  has  entirely  escaped  from  the  tunnel  oil,  while  that  produced 
from  No.  6  well  gives  a  good  yield. 

Hardison  &  Steimrt — Wheeler.  An  old  well  just  east  of  the  fore- 
going was  drilled  by  Hardison  &  Stewart,  the  predecessors  of  the  Union 
Oil  Company.      Abandoned — no  data. 

Bid  Rock  Oil  Company.  The  Red  Rock  Oil  C'ompany  of  Fillmore 
(not  incorporated,  Thos.  Arundell,  owner)  drilled  three  wells  just  east 
of  the  Burrows  wells  in  1904.  No.  1  was  farthest  to  the  south,  and 
slightly  below  the  line  of  strike  of  the  formation  in  which  the  Burrows 
wells  produce.  This  well  was  1000  feet  deep,  and  found  a  little  light 
oil.  but  not  enough  to  make  a  producer.  No.  2  was  farther  to  the  north, 
and  found  only  traces  of  oil  to  a  depth  of  600  feet.  No.  3  was  still 
farther  north,  and  was  carried  only  to  200  feet,  where  it  got  two  or  three 
barrels  of  heavy  oil. 

Farrell  <&  Soule — Srdtmarsh  Caiion  Oil  Company.  This  group  of 
Avells  is  located  in  the  north  l>ranch  of  Saltmarsh  Canon,  and  in  the  north 
half  of  section  30,  4-21. 

The  two  earliest  wells  were  drilled  by  Hardison  &  Stewart,  about 
1884.    These  wells  are  at  the  forks  of  the  caiion,  and  some  distance  south 


EX-MISSIOX,    SILVERTUBEAD    AXJ)    KMI'lIiK    UELLS.  53 

of  the  main  group.  One  of  these  wells  is  said  to  have  had  some  heavy 
oil  at  about  800  feet,  but  was  abandoned  because  of  caving  ground. 
Nothing  is  known  as  to  the  other. 

"Well  No.  1  of  the  Saltmarsh  Canon  Oil  Company  Avas  drilled  by 
Farrell  &  Soule  in  1901.  This  well  was  2-19  feet  deep,  produced  sixty 
barrels  per  day  for  a  time,  but  fell  away  rapidly,  and  is  now  abandoned, 
as  is  No.  2.  No.  3,  drilled  in  1903.  is  still  producing  two  barrels  per  day 
at  280  feet.  Nos.  4  and  5.  drilled  in  the  same  year,  are  abandoned,  as 
is  No,  6,  drilled  in  1904  to  a  depth  of  650  feet.  No.  7,  drilled  in  the 
same  year,  produces  five  barrels  per  day  at  520  feet,  while  No.  8  is 
abandoned  at  700  feet.  No.  9  can  not  be  found:  No.  10  is  recorded  as 
abandoned.  Well  No.  11.  drilled  in  1906.  produces  one  half  barrel  per 
day  at  320  feet.  No.  12  is  620  feet  deep,  was  drilled  in  the  next  year, 
and  produces  four  barrels.  No.  13  was  drilled  in  1909.  is  384  feet  deep, 
and  produces  three  barrels  per  day.  No.  14  wa.s  drilled  in  1910.  and 
pumps  a  little  oil  at  315  feet. 

Most  of  these  wells  are  said  to  have  been  liberal  producers  when  first 
drilled,  but  to  have  pumped  out  very  rapidly.  The  total  production 
of  the  lease  at  this  time  probably  approximates  five  hundred  barrels 
per  month.  Some  of  the  oil  from  this  caiion  is  of  very  peculiar  quality, 
being  of  a  strong  green  color,  and  very  low  in  asphalt. 

Union  Oil  Company — Saltmarsh.  In  the  east  branch  of  Saltmarsh 
Canon,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  divide  between  Saltmarsh  and  Adams 
canons,  the  Union  Oil  Company  formerly  had  a  group  of  fourteen  wells. 
This  property  is  now  under  lease  to  the  Midway  Petroleum  Company. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  January,  1888,  to  a  depth  of  290  feet.  It 
started  off  at  200  barrels  per  day,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  had  dropped 
to  a  daily  production  of  75  barrels.  No.  2  was  a  crooked  hole  at  350 
feet,  and  was  abandoned. 

Well  No.  3  was  400  feet  deep,  and  started  off  at  40  barrels  per  day. 
while  No.  4,  at  the  same  depth,  had  an  initial  production  of  55  barrels. 
No.  5  was  500  feet  deep,  and  \aelded  but  ten  barrels  per  day. 

Well  No.  6  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1200  feet,  and  was  a  dry  hole. 
No  records  can  be  found  of  later  wells  up  to  No.  11,  but  the  group  of 
wells  drilled  in  this  year  (1888)  included  up  to  No.  9,  at  least. 

Well  No.  11  was  drilled  in  1897.  and  was  a  producer.  This  well  was 
abandoned  with  the  others  when  the  lease  was  stripped,  but  has  been 
cleaned  and  put  to  pumping  by  the  lessees,  and  is  now  producing. 
No.  13  was  drilled  in  1898  to  a  depth  of  2115  feet,  and  was  a  producer. 

These  wells  appear  to  have  been  very  short  lived.  During  the  first 
year  the  first  nine  wells  are  credited  with  a  total  average  production  of 
200  barrels  per  day.  In  1895  but  three  of  these  wells  were  being 
pumped,  with  a  total  output  of  some  300  barrels  per  month,  or  ten 


54  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERX    CALIEORXIA. 

barrels  per  daj'.  lu  1907  or  1908.  after  having  stood  idle  for  some  time, 
this  lease  was  completely  stripped,  and  all  the  wells  abandoned.  It  has 
since  been  leased  to  the  Midway  Petroleum  Company. 

Midway  Petroleum  Company.  The  property  of  this  company  is  the 
old  Saltmarsh  lease  of  the  Union  Oil  Company.  This  property  was 
leased  in  1908  to  R.  M.  Boyer,  who  drilled  one  well,  and  also  cleaned 
and  put  to  pumping  one  of  the  old  wells,  Union  No.  11.  Later  the  lease 
and  wells  were  sold  to  the  Midway  Company,  who  also  drilled  a  well. 
This  company,  therefore,  have  three  Avells,  as  follows : 

No.  11,  drilled  by  the  Union  in  1897,  a  small  producer  at  about  500 
feet.  No.  1,  drilled  by  R.  M.  Boyer  in  1909,  said  to  be  good  for  8  barrels 
per  day  at  618  feet.  No.  2,  drilled  by  the  Midway  Petroleum  Company 
in  1910,  a  small  producer  at  about  800  feet.  The  oil  from  these  wells 
is  considerably  heavier  than  the  average  of  the  Saltmarsh  Caiion  Oil 
Company's  product,  being  a  brownish  oil  of  some  20°  Beaume. 

Green  Oil  Mining  Company.  In  1902  this  company  drilled  two  wells 
in  Adams  Canon,  probably  in  the  west  branch.  The}^  also  cleaned  and 
pumped  an  old  Union  well,  which  was  probably  Adams  No.  17-A,  and 
this  latter  was  reported  at  the  time  to  be  making  fifty  barrels  per  day. 
No.  1  was  reported  to  be  good  for  ten  barrels  of  green  oil,  and  No.  2 
to  be  140  feet  deep,  with  some  33  degree  green  oil.  These  wells  are 
now  abandoned,  and  apparently  were  found,  like  the  Saltmarsh  wells, 
to  be  short  lived. 

Adams  Canon — Tar  Flat  ivells.  The  wells  in  the  three  branches 
of  Adams  Caiion,  occupying  the  south  half  of  section  20,  4—21,  are  the 
property  of  the  Union  Oil  Company  of  California,  and  appear  to  have 
been  numbered  as  a  single  group,  though  the  numbers  are  now  greatly 
confused,  and  the  numbers  given  on  the  map,  while  in  the  main  believed 
to  be  correct,  are  probably  not  so  in  every  instance.  The  data  as  to 
these  wells,  while  very  incomplete,  are  still  more  full  than  in  any  other 
part  of  the  Ex-Mission  country,  and  are  given  in  full,  as  they  throw 
some  light  on  this  interesting  territory. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  about  the  year  1875,  it  is  said,  by  Thayer, 
Adams  &  O'Hara.  This  well  was  drilled  inmiediately  on  a  small  brea 
bed,  to  a  depth  of  180  feet,  and  in  1885,  after  haying  produced  some 
ten  years,  was  still  doing  from  20  to  25  barrels  of  oil  daily.  It  is  said, 
however,  that  after  well  No.  3  was  drilled  this  well  entirely  ceased  pro- 
ducing, at  any  rate  it  was  abandoned  before  1887. 

Well  No.  2  was  the  first  well  drilled  hy  the  Union  Oil  Company,  and 
was  put  down  in  1885,  to  a  depth  of  about  200  feet.  This  was  a  dry 
hole.  Well  No.  3,  at  the  same  depth,  was  still  producing  10  barrels  per 
day  in  1887.  Well  No.  4  was  500  feet  deep,  and  was  always  a  small 
produ'^er,  never  more  than  3  to  4  barrels  per  day.    No.  5  was  a  dry  hole 


EX-Missrox.  sTLVKirriii!i:Ai)  and  f.mimim'.  wKrj.s.  55 

at  850  feet.    Well  No.  6  was  250  feet  deep,  and  was  good  for  from  2  to  3 
barrels  per  day.    All  these  wells  were  drilled  in  1885. 

The  wells  numbered  from  7  to  12  were  drilled  in  the  following  year. 
Well  No.  7  found  oil  at  240  feet,  and  again  at  390  feet.  At  the  latter 
depth  it  flowed  75  barrels  per  day  for  a  time,  but  in  the  following  year 
Avas  doing  50  barrels  per  day  on  the  pump.  This  hole  is  said  to  have 
been  later  deepened  to  some  600  feet,  but  with  what  results  is  not 
known.    The  gravity-  of  the  oil  was  originally  28^°  Beaume. 

Well  No.  8  was  the  celebrated  ' '  Wild  Bill ' '  well.  It  found  its  first  oil 
at  420  feet,  and  a  second  production  at  785  feet,  but  was  finished  at 
840,  and  later  deepened  to  970  feet.  This  well  started  off  at  125  barrels 
per  day,  and  maintained  that  production  for  at  least  a  year. 

Well  No.  9  was  drilled  to  a  depth  of  1261  feet.  A  small  amount  of 
heavy  oil  was  found  at  370  feet,  but  this  was  cased  off,  and  as  nothing 
Avas  found  below,  the  well  was  abandoned.  No.  10,  drilled  to  625  feet, 
found  water,  but  no  oil,  and  was  abandoned. 

Well  No.  11  was  a  dry  hole  at  1494  feet,  and  never  produced.  It  will 
])e  noted  that  this  well  is  on  a  straight  line  between  ,Nos.  7  and  8,  both 
producers,  about  half-way  between  them,  and  much  deeper  than  either. 
This  peculiarity  was  noted  at  a  time  when  all  these  welLs  were  operating, 
and  the  uncertainty  Avhich  attaches  to  these  old  locations  does  not  obtain 
in  this  case. 

Well  No.  12  was  drilled  to  a  depth  of  440  feet,  but  it  is  said  that  top 
Avater  was  carried  doAvn,  and  though  the  well  made  a  small  amount  of 
oil  at  times,  it  was  ne\'er  produced.  No.  13  Avas  drilled  to  650  feet,  and 
afterwards  deepened  to  780  feet.  This  Avell  started  off  at  175  barrels 
per  day,  but  afterAA-ards  increased  its  output.  At  the  end  of  the  first 
year  it  was  reported  to  have  made  74.000  barrels  of  oil,  and  to  be  still 
doing  220  barrels  per  day. 

Well  No.  14  Avas  drilled  in  1887.  The  depth  was  300  feet,  and  it 
started  off  at  50  barrels  daily.  No.  15  Avas  a  dry  hole  at  1000  feet,  and 
Avas  abandoned. 

Well  No.  16  was  probably  the  largest  floAving  Avell  ever  drilled  in 
Ventura  County.  At  a  depth  of  750  feet  this  well  produced  so  heavily 
that  the  oil  found  its  way  down  the  long  Avindings  of  the  caiion  and  into 
Santa  Clara  River.  After  nine  months  it  was  still  doing  500  barrels 
per  day,  but  failed  not  long  after,  and  Avas  deepened  to  1100  feet,  but 
apparently  without  result. 

Well  No.  17  was  drilled  to  1400  feet,  and  kept  on  the  pump  for  some 
time,  but  was  a  very  small  producer.  The  depth  of  No.  18  is  not  known, 
though  it  is  over  900  feet. 

Wells  numbered  from  19  to  24  were  drilled  in  1888.  No.  19  was 
1430  feet  deep,  and  started  off  at  15  barrels  per  day.  No.  20  was  900 
feet  deep,  and  had  an  initial  production  of  25  barrels.    No.  21  was  860 


r.()  I'KTliOI.KUM    ]X    SOUTHERN    CAI.I  KOltX  I  A. 

feet,  60  barrels  daily.  No.  22  was  1400  feet,  20  barrels  per  day.  No.  23 
was  350  feet  deep,  and  made  30  barrels  per  day.  No.  24,  which  was 
located  close  to  No.  16,  was  1210  feet  deep,  and  started  off  at  150  barrels 
per  day.  No.  25  got  the  first  sand  at  1980  feet,  and  was  finished  at 
2450  feet.  No.  27  was  finished  at  2780  feet.  AVell  No.  3A,  drilled  in 
1890,  was  a  dry  hole  at  2550  feet,  and  never  produced.  Well  No.  28 
was  850  feet  deep,  and  yielded  25  barrels  per  day  until  No.  29  was 
finished,  Avhen  it  went  dry.  Well  No.  29  was  950  feet  deep,  and  pro- 
duced 60  barrels  at  first,  then  25  barrels  per  day  for  five  years. 

In  June,  1895,  it  is  reported  that  there  were  29  wells  on  this  lease,  of 
which  but  three  were  being  pumped,  these  yielding  about  900  barrels 
per  month  total.  At  least  five  wells,  and  possibly  six,  were  drilled  later, 
but  little  is  known  as  to  these.  No.  31  was  drilled  in  1898,  and  was 
2723  feet  deep.  No.  32,  in  the  same  year,  Avas  finished  at  1817  feet. 
No.  34,  drilled  in  1899,  was  1840  feet  deep. 

In  January,  1912,  when  visited,  this  lease  was  not  operating,  Init 
appeared  to  be  temporarily  shut  cloAvn.  One  well  was  flowing,  and  eight 
were  rigged  with  jack.  The  present  production  of  the  lease  is  not 
known,  but  is  probably  unimportant. 

The  wells  in  the  eastern  branch  of  Adams  Canon  were  known  locally 
as  the  Tar  Flat  wells.  These  are  included  in  the  above,  the  divide 
between  the  two  branches  of  the  canon  being  slight,  and  the  numbering 
common  to  the  two  groups. 

Feldt,  B.  W.  The  well  located  northwest  of  Adams  No.  1,  and  well 
up  on  Sulphur  Mountain,  is  said  to  have  been  drilled  in  1879,  and  was 
known  at  the  time  as  the  ' '  green  oil  well. ' '  This  well  was  182  feet  deep, 
and  originally  produced  some  40  barrels  daily  of  a  bright  green  oil, 
probabl}^  the  same  oil  as  is  now  found  in  some  of  the  Saltmarsh  Canon 
Oil  Company's  wells.  In  1887  the  product  of  this  Avell  had  fallen  to 
6  barrels  per  day,  and  it  has  long  been  abandoned. 

Scott  &  Gilmorc — Slocum  Bros. — Forest  City  National  Oil  Company. 
The  group  of  wells  on  the  west  side  of  Santa  Paula  Caiion,  on  lots  A 
and  S  of  Rancho  Ex-Mission,  have  passed  through  several  ownerships, 
and  the  reports  concerning  them  are  somewhat  confused.  The  first  seven 
wells  appear  to  have  been  drilled  by  Scott  &  Gillmore.  on  a  lease  from 
the  Union  Oil  Company,  and  to  have  reverted,  with  the  lease,  to  the 
owners  of  the  land.  In  1895  these  seven  wells  were  reported  to  be  pro- 
ducing about  100  barrels  per  month  in  all,  and  to  l)e  from  300  to  1100 
feet  deep. 

The  lease  afterward  passed  to  Slocum  Brothers,  of  Santa  Paula,  and 
in  1910  was  sold  to  the  Forest  City  National  Oil  Company,  who  drilled 
one  well.  No.  16. 

In  January  of  the  current  year,  thirteen  wells  were  producing  on  this 


EX-MISSIOX,    SILVERTHRKAD    AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  oT 

lease,  all  ou  the  jack.  Avhile  three  are  known  to  have  been  abandoned, 
the  latter  being  Xos.  2,  8,  and  9.  The  depths  of  the  producing  wells, 
£.0  far  as  known,  are  as  follows:  No.  1.  550  feet;  No.  3,  160  feet;  No.  5, 
1400  feet  deep,  but  producing  from  780  feet — this  Avell  gives  a  black  oil ; 
No.  6.  600  feet;  No.  7,  450  feet;  No.  10,  500  feet;  No.  11,  630  feet; 
No.  12,  543  feet ;  No.  13,  520  feet ;  No.  14,  660  feet ;  No.  15,  590  feet ; 
these  are  all  tubing  depths  as  operated  at  present,  the  original  depths  are 
not  known.  No.  16,  drilled  in  1910.  is  717  feet  deep.  These  wells  are 
all  very  small  producers,  but  are  pumped  on  the  jack  and  are  easy  to 
maintain. 

Hamilton  Gardner  Oil  Company — Midway  Provident  Oil  Com  pan  tj. 
A  short  distance  to  the  southeast  of  the  foregoing  is  the  well  of  the 
Midway  Provident  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  started  by  the  Hamilton 
Gardner  Oil  Company  in  1910.  It  is  suspended  at  present,  at  some 
500  feet. 

Uncle  John  Oil  Company.  The  only  attempt,  so  far  as  is  known,  to 
find  oil  in  this  hill  range  outside  of  the  narrow  belt  along  the  foot  of 
Sulphur  ^Mountain  was  made  by  the  Uncle  John  Oil  Company  of 
AVhittier.  In  1901  and  1902  this  company  drilled  two  wells  on  the 
Sexton  Ranch,  northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter,  section  19, 
3-22.  on  the  east  side  of  Sexton  Canon.  No  definite  information  can 
be  had  regarding  these  wells,  which  are  said  to  have  had  a  little  oil  at 
somewhere  about  1000  feet. 

The  Ex-Mission  country,  as  a  whole,  is  credited  with  30  producing 
weUs,  67  abandoned  (probabh'  more  than  this),  and  5  drilling  in 
August,  1910.  The  oil  produced  varies  somewhat,  but  is  all  of  a  high 
grade,  and  is  found  in  streaks  of  hard  sand,  dipping  steeph'  and  regu- 
larly to  the  north.  There  are  evidently  several  producing  sands,  and 
it  is  probable  that  the  limit  of  development  has  been  by  no  means 
reached.  As  a  rule,  the  production  of  individual  Avells  is  small,  but 
they  are  long  lived,  drilling  is  cheap  and  easy,  and  the  country  is  favor- 
able to  operations. 

QUALITY    OF    THE    EX-MISSION    OILS. 

The  oils  of  the  Ex-Mission  group  are  of  unusual  interest,  and  we  are 
fortunate  in  having  a  thoroughly  representative  selection  of  analyses. 
While,  with  one  exception,  all  the  oils  tested  come  above  the  limit 
usually  fixed  for  refining  oils,  they  show  the  most  remarkable  diversity 
of  qualities,  and  afford  a  striking  example  of  the  axiom  that  neither 
the  color  nor  the  gravity  of  a  crude  gives  more  than  the  most  tentative 
indication  of  its  value  to  the  refiner. 

In  color,  these  oils  have  a  very  wide  range,  shading  from  black  of  an 
unusual  brilliance  and  opacity  to  a  full,  rich  green,  through  greenish 


58  TETROLKUM    IN    SOlTIIliRN"    CALIFORNIA. 

black,  brownish  green  and  olive.  The  characteristic  brown-black  color 
of  Midway  and  Kern  River  oils  is  lacking ;  the  darkest  of  the  green  oils, 
however,  show  niuch  the  same  shade  as  the  top  sand  oils  of  the  East 
Side,  Coaliuga. 

Contrary  to  the  nsual  supposition,  the  green  oils  are  of  much  less 
value  for  refining  purposes  than  the  black.  These  green  oils  are  of 
very  unusual  composition,  resembling  but  one  other  oil  produced  in  this 
State — that  from  section  20,  19-15,  in  Coalinga.  It  will  be  recalled  that 
this  oil,  having  a  gravity  of  about  33°  Beaume.  gives  no  gasoline  and 
very  little  asphalt,  some  52°  distillate,  a  little  kerosene  of  high  boiling 
point,  with  a  ver}^  large  amount  of  33°  and  28°  distillate,  and  finally  a 
lubricating  stock  of  slight  viscosity.  These  characteristics  are  somewhat 
less  pronounce}!  in  the  green  oils  of  the  Ex-Mission,  nevertheless  the 
oils  of  this  color  are  noticeably  inferior  to  the  black  oils  of  the  same 
gravity  in  giving  less  light  distillates  and  valuable  lubricants,  and 
more  middle  distillate  and  lubricants  of  low  viscosity. 

These  characteristics  are  plainly  brought  out  in  the  appended 
analyses,  and  it  is  needless  to  go  into  details  here.  Comparison  of  a  few 
of  the  analyses  of  green  and  black  oils  of  the  same  gravity  and  of 
green  oils  of  different  gravities  will  be  of  interest,  even  if  it  does 
not  throw  any  light  on  the  nature  and  origin  of  these  peculiar  mix- 
tures. In  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge  of  the  hydrocarbons 
of  which  our  oils  are  composed,  it  is  useless  to  speculate  on  the  source 
of  these  green  oils,  which  occur  in  close  proximity  to  others  of  a  quite 
different  quality,  and  often  in  the  same  well. 

C.   A.    Burrows   &.   Son.     Well    No.   2. 

Gravity 20.0°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil  of  a  very  blacli  color,  with  mild  and  rather  flat 
odor. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry.   last  cut   in  a 
stream  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dryness. 

First  cut 7.2  per  cent  49.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 5.8  per  cent  42.1° 

Third  cut 18.1  per  cent  32.7° 

Fourth  cut   60.3  per  cent  23.6° 

Fixed   carbon    8.6  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil. 

100.0 

*Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


EX-MISSIOX,    SILVERTIIREAD    AXD    EMPIRE    ^Vl;^LS.  59 

The  carbon  is  calculated  to  the  eorrespouding  weight  of  ' '  D ' '  asphalt 
by  the  usual  factor,  and  the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas.  The 
above  figures  are  roughly  equal  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline   61.0°  Beaume       None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  5.0  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  10.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  14.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.0°  26.5  per  cent   )  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.4°  23.0  per  cent   S  23.6°— 49.5% 

Asphalt "D"  21.5  per  cent  or  76  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  refine  very  well,  to  good  colors  and 
odors.  The  lubricating  stock  is  very  stable,  and  gives  a  fair  yield  of 
reduced  stock  of  high  viscosity  and  good  color,  which  treats  out  with  the 
standard  dose  of  acid  to  a  very  handsome  red  oil  of  18.6°  gravity. 

This  is  more  nearly  a  normal  oil  than  the  green  oils  of  this  region. 
and  it  will  be  noted  that  a  high  asphalt  percentage  and  low  gravity  go 
with  a  very  fair  yield  of  light  oils,  while  the  middlings  are  low. 

7412,* 
C.  A.   Burrows  &  Son.      Well   No.  6. 

Gravity 27.2°   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  60°  F 2.79  Redwood  (water.  1) 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 1.24  Redwood  (water,  1) 

Flash  point Below  60°  F.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

Sulfur 0.72  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value ." 19.161  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  in  glass,  without  steam. 

Below  212°   F 12.8  per  cent  70.4°  Beau m^ 

212  to  302° 13.8  per  cent  54.1° 

302   to   392° 9.9  per  cent  45.0° 

392  to  482° 7.7  per  cent  35.3° 

482  to  572° 9.8  per  cent  28.5° 

572°  to  grade 30.0  per  cent  26.9° 

Asphalt    14.8  per  cent  Grade  "D"   (about) 

Loss   1.2  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  approximately  equal  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  27  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  13  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants 39  per  cent 

Asphalt    _--  15  per  cent 

lioss    1  per  cent 

100  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  H.  X.  Cooper. 


60  I'ETROLEUM    TX    SOT'THEIJX    CALIFOK'MA. 

This  is  a  very  unusual  oil  in  point  of  gasoline  yield,  the  gasoline  start- 
ing so  high  as  to  include  all  the  stock  ordinarih'  going  into  a  52""  cut. 
Middlings  are  Ioav.  It  is  impossible  to  speak  with  certainty  as  to  the 
quality  of  the  lubricating  stock  from  figures  quoted,  but  probably  it  is 
not  of  mucli  value. 

7410.* 

Union   Oil   Company   of   California.      Saltmarsli    No.    11. 

Gravity 19.7°   Beaumg 

Viscosity  at  (iO°  F 31.S2  Redwood  (water,  1) 

Viscosity  at  180°  F 1.9S  Redwood  (water,  1) 

Flash  point Below  (>0°  F..  /Vbel-Pensky  test 

Distillutioii. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  di.stilled  from  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°  F 1.4  per  cent  tj3.4°  Beaume 

212  to  302° S.7  percent  .-.3.G° 

302  to  392° S.3  per  cent  42.8° 

392  to  482° 8.7  per  cent  33.2° 

482  to  572° 8.9  per  cent  26.2° 

572  to  grade 40.1  per  cent  22.9° 

Asphalt    20.7  percent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    3.2  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  approximately  equal  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61.0°  Beaumg  3  per  cent 

Engine  distillate __  52.0°  7  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  9  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  8  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants.-  23.5°  49  per  cent 

Asphalt   "'D"  21' per  cent 

Loss 3  per  cent 

100  per  cent 
This  is  a  very  unusual  oil  for  this  section,  giving  large  yields  at  the 
ends,  and  small  yields  of  middlings.  It  will  be  noted  that  a  low  gravity 
goes  with  a  considerable  yield  of  light  products,  much  asphalt,  and  a 
heavy  lubricating  stock.  The  latter  seems  to  distil  witliont  much  break- 
ing down. 

44S2.* 
Union    Oil    Company   of   California.      Saltmarsh    No.   7. 

Gravity 29.8°  Beaumg 

This  is  a  very  thin  oil.  with  an  olive  green  color,  and  sweet,  rather  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  fifth  cut  in  a 
stream  of  inert  gas.    Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.6  per  cent  56.6°  Beaumg 

Second   cut   8.6  per  cent  52.6° 

Third   cut , 14.7  per  cent  42.4° 

Fourth  cut 23.0  per  cent  33.4° 

Fifth  cut 45.1  per  cent  25.3° 

Fixed  carbon 3.0  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


EX-MISSIOX,    SILVERTTir.EAD    AXD    EMPIRE    WELLS.  61 

The  carbon  is  calculated  to  "D''  asphalt  and  the  last  cut  reduced,  as 
in  the  last  analysis  quoted.  The  above  figures  are  ecjuivalent  to  the 
following  commercial  anah'sis.  the  percentage  given  for  the  first  and 
second  products  being  approximate  only : 

Gasoline    G1.0°  Beaume  2     per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  14     percent 

Kerosene 42.0^  13     percent 

Stove  oil 83.0°  23     percent 

Fuel  distillate 31.5°  17     per  cent  j  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 19.9°  23.3  per  cent  \  25.3° — 10.5% 

Asphalt 7.5  per  cent  or  26  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  treated  readily  to  good  colors,  and  gave  sweet 
refined  products.  The  light  end  of  the  oil  is  of  excellent  quality,  though 
the  yields  are  very  low  for  an  oil  of  this  gravity. 

The  heavj^  end  of  the  oil  was  abused  in  the  distillation  and  more 
decomposed  than  it  should  have  been,  still  it  is  evidently  not  very  stable. 
The  reduced  stock  with  the  usual  dose  of  acid  gave  a  21.7"  red  oil  of 
fine  color,  but  low  viscositv. 


Midway   Petroleum    Company.      Well    No.   2. 

Gravity 19.4°   Beaum6 

This  is  a  moderatelj-  viscous  oil;  of  a  sreenish  black  color  and  mild  odor. 
Distillatioti. 

A  sample  of  J  50  c.c,  distilled  in  copper,   fii-st  three  cuts  dry.   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dryness. 

First  cut 8.0  per  cent  52.4°  Beaume 

Second  cut S.8  per  cent  42.4° 

Third   cut   10.5  per  cent  33.2° 

Fourth  cut 04.7  per  cent  22.5° 

Fixed  cai'bon   8.0  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 
Carbon  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor.     Lubricating  stock 
reduced   in   a  stream   of   gas.      This   gives   the   following   commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 01.0°  Beaume       None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  S  per  cent 

Kerosene   42.0°   .  9  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  10  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.0°  23percent    iSlop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   14.8°  20  per  cent    S    22.5°— 539r 

Asphalt   "D"  20  per  cent  or  72  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  percent 
The  lighter  oils  from  this  crude  refine  readily  to  good  colors  and 
odors.    The  lubricating  stock  is  stable,  and  gives  a  good  yield  of  reduced 
stock  of  low  gra^^ty  and  high  viscosity.     This  treats  out  with  the  usual 

♦Analysis  by  J.   P.   P. 


62  TETROLEUM    TX    SOUTHERX    CALIFORNIA. 

dose  of  acid  to  a  red  oil  of  17.3=  gravity  and  an  excellent  color.  This 
oil  shoAvs  a  surprisingl.y  good  analysis  for  its  gravity,  and  may  be  con- 
sidered a  very  good  refining  oil. 

-1435.* 
Saltmarsh    Canon    Oil    Company.      Well    No.    14. 

Gravity 22.3°   Beaum6 

This  is  a  moderately  thin  oil  of  a  strong  green  color  and  flat  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in  a  stream  of  fixed  gas,  to  a  residue 
of  dry  coke. 

First  cut  ___! IS.8  per  cent  33.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut _ 79.2  per  cent  23.0° 

Fixed  carbon 2.0  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

Coke  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  last  cut  reduced 
in  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine   distillate    52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  None 

Stove  distillate .33.0°  19  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.0°  30  per  cent  i  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 17.7°  46  per  cent  \   23.0°— 76% 

Asphalt    '-D"  5  per  cent  or  IS  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  are  rather  dark  in  color,  but  sweet 
and  treated  out  well.  The  heavy  stock  was  of  good  quality,  and  gives  a 
large  yield  of  reduced  stock  of  fair  viscosity.  This,  with  the  usual 
dose  of  acid,  gives  a  19.8°  engine  oil  of  very  dark  color  and  rather  low 
viscosity. 

The  lubricating  fractions  of  this  oil  are  unusually  refractory,  and 
in  spite  of  the  handsome  appearance  of  the  crude  it  is  of  very  little 
refining  value. 

2475.t    • 

Saltmarsh  Canon  Oil  Company.     Wells  Nos.  1  and  6. 

Gravity 25.2°   Beaum4 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  deep  olive  color  and  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c.  distilled  from  glass,  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
X  0.8)   for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are : 

Below  212°   F 1.5  per  cent  >  .,       •..    ro -o  t, 

212  to  302°  F 11.0  per  cent  \  '^''''"'^  ^^'^     ^^^"°^^ 

302  to  518°  F 25.5  per  cent  37.6° 

Residue  above  518° 62.0  per  cent  20.7° 

The  high  gravity  of  this  residue  is  abnormal,  and  indicates  a  large 
percentage  of  the  lighter  lubricants.     In  this  connection  see  Analyses 

•Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 
^Analysis  by  E.   N.   Moor. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVEKTlIliKAI)    AXD    EMPIKE    WELLS.  63 

4482.  4439.  44fil,  and  4435.  After  evaporation  to  asphalt  and  calcula- 
tion, the  above  figures  are  approximately  equal  to  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaumg  o  per  cent 

Engine   distillate   52°  9  per  cent 

Kerosene    42°  IS  per  cent 

Stove  oil  and  lubricants Not  separated  60  per  cent 

Asphalt 10  per  cent  or  3.".  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  per  cent 

Saltmarsh  Canon  Oil  Company.      Average  of  Wells  Nos.  3,   11,  and  13. 

Gravity . 25.9°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil.  with  a  strong  olive  green  color  and  a  rather  flat  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry.  third  cut  in  a 
stream  of  inert  gas.     Distilled  to  dryness. 

First   cut   --     9.2  per  cent  42.2°  Beaume 

Second  cut 39.1  per  cent  33.1° 

Third  cut 49.0  per  cent  22.9° 

Fixed  carbon 2.2  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  mauuer,  and 
the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas.  The  above  figures  are  equivalent 
to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline     61.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  9.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  40.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 32.0°  11.0  per  cent/    Slop  distillate 

Reduced   .stock    18.6°  34.5  per  cent  (,    22.9°— 45.5%       . 

Asphalt    "D"  5.5  per  cent  or  19  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

Light  products  refine  readily.  Stove  oil  was  considerably  decom- 
posed, and  the  high  yield  of  this  product  is  in  part  due  to  breaking 
down  of  the  heavy  lubricating  oils,  though  distillation  was  conducted 
under  favorable  conditions.  The  lubricating  stock  was.  therefore,  a 
good  deal  burned,  and  gave  a  bluish  reduced  stock  of  low  viscosity, 
which  with  the  usual  dose  of  acid  gave  a  20°  engine  oil  of  fair  color 
only. 

A  small  amount  of  52^  distillate  may  have  escaped  estimation  in  this 
test,  but  the  yield,  if  any,  must  be  extremely  small.  The  high  yield  of 
middlings  makes  the  gravity  of  this  oil  very  deceptive,  as  the  analysis 
shows  it  to  be  of  little  refining  value. 

♦Analysis  by  J.   T.   P. 


64  I'ETROLKr.M     IN'    SOI'I'IIKIIN'    CA  I.l  |-()i;X  I  A. 

54f;i.*. 

Saltmarsh   Canon    Oil    Company.      Well    No.    12. 

Gravity 20.8°   Beaume 

This  Is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  strong  green  color  and  flat,  rather  foul  odor,  resembling 
that  of  the  seepage  oil  of  Sulphur  Creek,  Colusa  County. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
cui-rent  of  fixed  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First   cut    14.9percent  52.2°  Beaume 

Second  cut 18.3  per  cent  42.6° 

Third  cut 25.0  per  cent  33.2° 

Fourth  cut 39.7  per  cent  24.6° 

Fixed    carbon    1.5  i^riuns  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

Coke  cak-iilated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  the  last  cut 
reduced  in  a  current  of  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline    (51.0°  I^eaume       None. 

Engine    distillate    52.0°  15.0  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  19.0  per  cent 

Stove   oil , 33.0°  25.0  per  cent 

Fuel    distillate    27.5°  15.0  per  cent  i    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 19.9°  21.0  per  cent  \   24.6°— 37.2% 

Asphalt    "D"  3.8  per  cent  or  13  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  are  of  good  and  sweet  odor,  but  do 
not  readily  treat  to  water-white  oils.  The  stove  oil  is  sweet,  and  the 
large  yield  seems  to  be  natural  to  the  oil,  and  not  the  result  of  decompo- 
sition. The  lubricating  stock  is  of  fair  color  and  low  viscosity,  and 
gives  a  normal  reduced  stock,  which  treats  out  to  a  red  oil  of  a  dark 
amber  color  and  rather  low  viscositv. 


Saltmarsh    Canon    Oil    Company.     Well    No.   7. 

Gravity 32.7°   Beaume 

This  is  a  \ovy  limpid  oil,  with  a  strong  green  color  and  a  flat,  repulsive  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  KM)  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,   first   four  cuts  dry,   fifth  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dryness. 

First   cut   7.5  percent  61.5°  Beaume 

Second    cut    14.0  per  cent  52.7° 

Third  cut 9.5  per  cent  42.9° 

Fourth  cut 35.5  per  cent  32.9° 

Fifth  cut 32.1  per  cent  21.4° 

Fixed    carbon    1.4  grams  per  100  c.c.   oil 

100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  is  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  the  fifth 


"Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVERTHREAD    AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  65 

cut   reduced   in   a   current   of   gas,   giving   the   following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaumg  8..5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  13.0  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  11.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  32.-5  per  cent 

Fuel    distillate    29.0°  .  13.3  per  cent  i    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.2°  18.2  per  cent  ^    21.4°— 31.5% 

Asphalt    "D"  3.5  per  cent  or  12  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  oils  from  this  crude  refine  with  unusual  readiness  to  water 
white  oils  of  very  slight  odor.  The  stove  oil  shows  little  indications  of 
cracking.  The  lubricating  stock  is  of  good  color  and  viscosity,  and 
gives  a  reduced  stock  of  excellent  color.  This  treats  out  to  a  fine  red 
oil  of  high  viscosity. 

7409.* 
Union   Oil   Company  of  California.     Adams  Canon,   Green   Oil   Tunnel. 

Gravity 20.1°   Beaume 

Viscosity   at  60°    F 8.95  Redwood   (water,  1.) 

Viscosity  at  180°  F 1.40  Redwood  (water,  1) 

Flash  point 154°  F.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

Sulfur 0.32  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 19,087  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  302°   F 0.8  per  cent 

302  to  392° 7.8  per  cent  43.3°  Beaum6 

392  to  482° 16.3  per  cent  37.2° 

482  to  572° 17.4  per  cent  30.6° 

572°  to  grade 40.0  per  cent  25.3° 

Asphalt    16.0  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    1.1  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis  : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine    distillate    52.0°  1  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  9  per  cent 

Stove   oil   33.0°  32  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants—  28.3°  40  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  17  per  cent 

Loss 1  per  cent 

100  per  cent 

The  he&Yj  end  of  this  oil  holds  up  better  in  distillation  than  in 
No.  7408,  but,  as  usual,  the  middle  cuts  are  very  large. 


►Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 

6—63 


66  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

4486.« 
Union   Oil    Company   of   California.     Adams   Canon    average. 

Gravity 25.1°   Beaumg 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  very  black  (jolor,  with  mild,  gassy  odor. 
Distillatioti. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut   in  a 
stream  of  inert  gas.    Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.6  per  cent  60.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 5.6  per  cent  51.5° 

Third  cut 9.0  per  cent  42.4° 

Fourth   cut   22.S  per  cent  33.1° 

Fifth  cut 51.7  per  cent  25.3° 

Fixed  carbon . 5.3  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

Coke  is  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor.    Fifth  cut  reduced 

in  a  current  of  gas.    Following  is  the  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 01.0°  Beaume  5.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  6.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  9.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil .- 33.0°  23.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 32.0°  18.0  per  cent  )    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 18.6°  25.7  per  cent  j   25.3°— 43.7% 

Asphalt "D"  13.3  per  cent  or  47  lbs.  per  bbl. 

Ii30.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  are  of  first  quality  and  refine  readily.  The  lubri- 
cating stock  breaks  down  considerably,  and  gives  only  a  low  yield  of 
reduced  stock.  This  treats  with  five  per  cent  of  acid  to  a  20.7°  red  oil 
of  low  viscosity  and  rather  bro\\Tiish  red  shade.  Considerable  paraffin 
occurs  in  this  fraction,  giving  the  red  oil  a  high  cold  test. 

This  oil  is  rather  high  is  middlings  and  low  in  end  products,  and  is 
not  very  stable  at  the  latter  end. 

4485.* 
Union   Oil    Company   of  California.     Adams   Canon,    H.    &   S.   Tunnel    No.    1. 

Gravity 25.2°   Beaumg 

This  is  a  very  limpid,  clear  oil,  of  a  strong  green  color  and  mild,  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  fourth  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.4  per  cent  52.2°  Beaum^ 

Second  cut 12.9  per  cent  42.6° 

Third   cut   25.4  per  cent  33.1° 

Fourth   cut   52.5  per  cent  21.2° 

Fixed  carbon 3.8  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.   P.  P. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVEKTHEEAD    AND    EMPIRE   WELLS.  67 

Carbon   calculated  to   asphalt  in  the  usual  manner.     Fourth   cut 

reduced  in  a  stream  of  inert  gas.  The  following  is  the  commercial 
analysis:  • 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume         None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  6  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  13  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  25  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28.0°  14  per  cent  ^    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 17.1°  82  per  cent  \    21.2° — 46.5% 

Asphalt   "D"  10  per  cent  or  32  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  per  cent 
As  is  usual  with  tunnel  oils,  gasoline  is  absent.  Distillate  and  kero- 
sene are  sweet  and  treat  out  freely.  The  lubricating  stock  holds  up 
well,  both  in  distillation  and  reduction,  and  has  a  good  viscosity.  Re- 
duced stock  treats  with  standard  dose  of  acid  to  a  good  red  oil  with 
fair  outertone,  gravity  19.9°.  The  high  gravity  of  the  crude  is  due 
to  low  asphalt  percentage  and  large  amount  of  middlings,  which  do  not 
appear  to  be  due  to  decomposition  of  the  lubricating  stock. 

4475.* 
Union  Oil  Company  of  California.     A  well  in  Adams  Caiion. 

Gravity 25.5°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil,  extremely  black  and  opaque,  and  with  a  mild  and   rather 
gassy  odor. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  in  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
stream  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.8  per  cent  57.5°  Beaume 

Second  cut 5.5  per  cent  51.0° 

Third  cut lO.G  per  cent  42.4° 

Fourth  cut 17.5  per  cent  ■  33.1° 

Fifth  cut 54.5  per  cent  27.0° 

Fixed  carbon 6.1  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 
Carbon  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor.    Lubricating  stock 

not  fractionated  in  this  analysis.     The  following  commercial  analysis 
is  indicated: 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  3  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  9  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  10  per  cent 

Stove  oil ____  33.0°  17  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants 27.0°  46  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  15  per  cent  or  54  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  per  cent 
The  light  products  were  of  mild  color  and  odor,  and  treated  out  well. 
Heavy  stock  badly  cracked  and  of  little  value.    Like  the  Tar  Flat  oil, 
this  oil  is  best  at  its  light  end,  the  lubricating  stock  being  too  tender  to 
be  of  much  value. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


68  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHEBN    CALIFORNIA. 

7408.* 
Union   Oil    Company   of   Califorria.     Adams   Canon    No.   27. 

Gravity  28.9°   Beaumg 

Viscosity  at  G0°  F 5.91  Redwood  (water,  1) 

Viscosity  at  180°  F 1.34  Redwood  (water,  1) 

Flasli  point Below  60°  F.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

Sulfur 0.48  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 19,165  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  last  fractions  being  considerably 
decomposed.  Light  cuts  read  directly  by  picnometer  weights.  Asphalt 
determined  by  weight,  no  definite  hardness  stated.     The  original  figures  are : 

Below  212°  F 4.0  per  cent  63.2°  Beaumg 

212  to  302° 14.1  per  cent  51.0° 

302  to  392° 9.1  per  cent  42.3° 

392  to  482° 9.3  per  cent  37.2° 

482  to  572° 10.1  per  cent  33.9° 

572°  to  grade 43.0  per  cent  29.4° 

Asphalt 9.8  percent  Grade  "D"    (about) 

Loss   0.6  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis.  The 
percentage  of  stove  oil  is  very  doubtful,  and  may  be  much  larger  than  as 
stated,  but  as  this  is  of  little  value,  the  point  is  not  of  importance. 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  7  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  7  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  17  per  cent 

Stove  oil 34.0°  15  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants—  __  44  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D'  10  per  cent 

100  per  cent 
No  information  is  given  regarding  the  quality  of  the  light  products. 
The  heavy  end  seems  to  be  rather  unstable,  even  allowing  for  the  decom- 
position always  attending  this  method  of  distillation. 

4483.t 
Union   Oil   Company  of  California.      Tar   Flat  Tunnel. 

Gravity 24.3°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  deep  greenish  black  color,  clearly  distinguishable  from  the 
jet  black  oils  from  the  wells  farther  south.    The  odor  is  also  flatter  and  less  gassy. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  was  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  fourth  cut 
in  a  stream  of  inert  gas.    Distillation  was  carried  to  a  dry  coke. 

First  cut 8.4  per  cent  54.8°  Beaumg 

Second  cut 8.0  per  cent  38.3° 

Third  cut 10.2  per  cent  33.3° 

Fourth  cut 70.4  per  cent  25.4° 

Fixed  carbon 3.0  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 


100.0  per  cent 


*Analysis  by  H.   N.    Cooper. 
tAnalysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


,  EX-MISSION,    SILVERTHREAD    AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  69 

Cake  was  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  fourth  cut 

reduced  in  a  stream  of  fixed  gas.  This  gives  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 01.0°  Beaume  1.0  per  cent  ,  Approximate  figures 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  7.0  per  cent '-                ^^^^, 

Kerosene 42.0°  CO  per  cent ) 

Stove  oil 33.0°  12.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 32.0°  22.5  per  cent  i    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 19.3°  44.0  per  cent  S    25.4°— 66.5% 

Asphalt   "D"  7.5  per  cent  or  26  lbs.  per  bbl. 

lUO.O  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  are  of  first  quality,  and  refine  read- 
ily. Lubricating  stock  is  much  more  stable  than  is  usual  with  these 
oils,  and  handles  well.  Reduced  stock  with  usual  treatment  gives  a  20.7° 
engine  oil  of  a  very  fine  color;  the  yield  also  is  unusually  large.  On 
the  whole,  this  is  a  better  oil  for  refining  than  most  of  the  oils  of  this 
region,  though,  like  all  tunnel  oils,  deficient  in  gasoline. 

5462.* 
Union    Oil    Company   of    California.      Tar    Flat,    South    Well. 

Gravity 24.4°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  brownish  black  color  and  rather  sharp,  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
stream  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 19.5  per  cent  .52.0°  Beaum^ 

Second  cut 11.4  per  cent  41.1° 

Third  cut 31.8  per  cent  33.1° 

Fourth  cut 34.7  per  cent  19.0° 

Fixed  carbon 2.6  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 
Carbon  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor.    Last  cut  reduced 
in  a  current  of  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 01.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  19.5  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  10.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  33.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate    30.0°  13.0  percent!    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock Solid  17.5  per  cent  S    19.6°— 30.5% 

Asphalt "D"  0.5  per  cent  or  23  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  refine  readily,  to  fair  colors  and 
sweet  odor.  The  stove  oil  cut  is  badly  burned,  indicating  much  cracking 
of  the  lubricating  stock.  The  latter  is  pasty  with  paraffin  at  60°  temper- 
ature, and  the  reduced  stock  sets  solid  at  70°  F.,  making  it  useless  for 
the  manufacture  of  engine  oil,  as  the  paraffin  from  these  oils  does  not 
crystallize. 

♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


70  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

2425.* 
Union  Oil   Company  of  California.      Tar   Flat,   lease  average. 

Gravity 25.4°   Beaum6 

Viscosity  at  G5°  F 6.96°  Engler   (water,  1) 

Flashpoint 120°  F.,  open  test 

Tliis  oil  is  very  similar  in  appearance  to  the  last  sample,  being  a  limpid  oil,  very 
dense  and  of  a  black  color,  with  a  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  small  sample  was  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F. 
The  residue  from  this  distillation  was  reduced  by  open  evaporation  to  grade 
"D"  (40  penetration),  and  the  asphalt  weighed.  The  figure  for  asphalt  thus 
obtained  is  reduced  by  20  per  cent  (one  fifth)  to  correct  for  oxidation. 
Following  are  the  direct  figures: 

Below  212°  F Trace 

212  to  302°    ^ 10.0  per  cent  56.0°  Beaume 

302   to   518°—^ 27.0  per  cent  38.8° 

Residue  above  518° 63.0  per  cent  16.8° 

100.0  per  cent 
Asphalt   16.85  grams  per  100  c.c. 

This  is  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analj^sis : 

Gasoline    61.0°  Beaum6  5  per  cent 

Engine   distillate 52.0°  5  per  cent 

Kerosene  -^ 42.0°  18  per  cent 

Stove  oil  and  lubricants 59  per  cent   (not  separated) 

A.sphalt i --  "D"  13  per  cent  or  47  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  per  cent 

4474.-^ 
Union  Oil  Company  of  California.      Tar  Flat  Nos.  31   and  32. 

Gravity 28.6°   Beaume 

This  is  a  very  limpid  oil,  extremely  black  and  opaque,  with  a  gassy  and  rather 
sharp  odor. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c.  was  distilled  in  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dryness. 

First  cut 8.8  per  cent  58.1°  Beaum6 

Second   cut   7.0  per  cent  49.6° 

Third   cut   : 10.6  per  cent  42.1° 

Fourth   cut   : ^ 16.6  per  cent  33.1° 

Fifth  cut 51.8  per  cent  26.1" 

Fixed   carbon   5.2  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

'  The  carbon  is  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  the  last 


"Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor, 
t Analysis  by  .1.   P.   P. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVERTHEEAD    AXD    EMPIEE    WELLS.  71 

cut  reduced  in  a  current  of  gas.  This  gives  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    01.0°  Beaum^  6  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  9  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  11  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  16  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   34.0°  17  per  cent )    Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock 19.8°  28  per  cent  S    26.1°— 45% 

Asphalt "D"  13  per  cent  or  46  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  per  cent 

The  light  products  (down  to  and  including  kerosene)  are  rather  dark, 
but  treat  out  readily.  The  heavier  oils  break  up  badly.  The  reduced 
stock  is  dark  in  color  and  does  not  take  the  acid  well,  giving  a  very  dark 
red  oil,  even  at  the  high  gravity  of  22.8°  for  the  finished  oil. 

This  is  a  refining  oil  of  fair  quality  only,  and  best  at  its  light  end. 

5465.* 
Slocum  Oil   Company.      Well   No.  5. 

Gravity 14.9°   BeaumS 

This  is  a  moderately  viscous  oil  of  a  brownish  black  color  and  a  mild  odor.     It  is 
rather  less  viscous  and  noticeably  greener  in  tone  than  valley  oils  of  the  same  gravity. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  in  a  stream  of  fixed  gas.     Distilla- 
tion carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 12.5  per  cent  32.0°  Beaumg 

Second  cut   78.7  per  cent  20.9° 

Fixed  carbon 8.8  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

Carbon  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  last  cut  reduced 
in  gas.    This  gives  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61.0°  Beaume         None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene 42.0°  None 

Stove  oil 33.0°  11.5  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   30.0°  28.0  per  cent  }    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   14.5°  38.5  per  cent  f    20.9°— 66.5% 

Asphalt "D"  22.0  per  cent  or  77  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0 

The  stove  oil  from  this  run  is  perfectly  sweet,  and  free  from  any 
indications  of  cracking.  The  lubricating  stock  is  dark  in  color,  but  of 
high  viscosity,  and  gives  a  large  yield  of  very  viscous  reduced  stock. 
This  treats  with  the  usual  acid  to  a  red  oil  of  17.2°  gravity,  moderate 
viscosity,  and  good  red  color  with  strong  green  overtone. 

♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


73  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

5463.* 
Slocum  Oil  Company.      Tunnel. 

Gravity 22.5°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil  of  an  olive  green  color  and  bland  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  .sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in  a  stream  of  gas,  to  a  residue  of 
dry  coke. 

First  cut 26.5  per  cent  33.1°  Beaum6 

Second  cut 70.6  per  cent  22.5° 

Fixed  carbon 2.9  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

Carbon  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor.  Lubricating  stock 
reduced,  in  a  stream  of  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaum#         None 

Engine  distillate 52*  None 

Kerosene    42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  26.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30°  25.8  per  cent  )    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16°  40.4  per  cent  \   22.5°— 66.2% 

Asphalt "D"  7.3  per  cent  or  16  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  first  cut  from  this  crude  has  a  strong  odor,  and  is  in  part  a  decom- 
position product.  The  lubricating  stock,  however,  comes  over  clean, 
and  gives  a  good  yield  of  reduced  stock  of  good  color  and  fair  viscosity. 
This  treats  with  the  usual  dose  of  acid  to  a  red  oil  of  19.9°  gravity, 
moderate  viscosity,  and  of  a  light  red  color  with  brownish  tone. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  analysis  of  this  oil,  with  a  gravity  of  22.5° 
Beaume,  is  almost  identical  with  that  of  No.  5  well  on  the  same  lease, 
the  difference  being  in  the  percentage  of  stove  oil  and  of  asphalt.  An 
explanation  of  this  anomaly  would  be  of  great  interest. 

4433. t 

Slocum   Oil   Company.      West   End   Wells. 

Gravity 24.3°   Beaum6 

This  is  a  fairly  limpid  oil.  of  a  greenish  black  color  and  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  fourth  cut  in  a 
stream  of  fixed  gas.     Distillation  to  a  residi:^  of  dry  coke. 

First    cut    8.0  per  cent  49.1°  Beaumg 

Second   cut   8.0  per  cent  42.0"^ 

Third   cut   29.0  per  cent  32.8° 

Fourth  cut 49.5  per  cent  23.1° 

Fixed  carbon 5.5  gi-ams  per  100  c.c.  oil 


100.0  per  cent 


'■Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 
{•Analysis  by  J.   P.   P. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVERTHREAD    AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  73 

Coke  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  last  cut  reduced 
in  a  current  of  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis  : 

Gasoline    (Jl.O°  llcaiiine  Xone 

Engine   distillate 52.0°  5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  13  per  cent 

Stove  oil 34.0°  22  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   30.0°  14  per  cent  i    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 19.0°  o2  percent^    23.1°— 46% 

Asphalt "D"  14  per  cent  or  32  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  treated  fairly  well  only — colors  did 
not  come  up  well,  though  treated  oils  w-ere  perfectly  sweet.  The  heavy 
end  of  the  oil  breaks  down  considerably,  and  gives  only  fair  products. 
Reduced  stock  with  the  usual  dose  of  acid  gave  a  21.5°  engine  oil  of  a 
dull,  brownish  red  color  and  low  viscosity. 

This  oil,  as  is  not  unusual  in  this  region,  is  overloaded  with  middlings, 
and  does  not  show  as  good  an  analysis  as  the  gravity  would  indicate. 

4436.* 
Slocum  Oil   Company.      Lease  average. 

Gravity 24..5°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil,  having  a  black  color  with  green  tinge,  and  a  somewhat 
gassy  odor. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  was  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry.  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.6  per  cent  52.6°  Beaume 

Second   cut    12.0  per  cent  42.8° 

Third   cut    30.3  per  cent  33.2° 

Fourth   cut   4o.7  per  cent  23.9° 

Fixed  carbon 8.4  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

Coke  is  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  fourth 
cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas,  thus  getting  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    61.0°  Beaum6  None 

Engine   distillate    52.0°  6  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  14  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  28  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   32.0°  12  percent   j    Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock   17.7°  19  per  cent    \    23.9°— 31% 

Asphalt "D"  21  per  cent  or  75  lbs.  per  bbl. 

The  light  products  treated  out  perfectly  sweet,  though  not  to  very 
good  color.  Lubricating  stock  was  considerably  cracked  and  gave  only 
fair  results.  Reduced  stock  wdth  5  per  cent  acid  gave  a  19.5°  engine  oil 
of  fair  color  and  rather  low  viscosity.  This  oil  is  best  at  the  light  end, 
but  is  high  in  middle  oils,  and  of  moderate  refining  value  only. 

*Analj'sis  by  J.  P.  P. 


74  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHEEN   CALIFORNIA. 

2433.* 

Slocum  Oil  Company.     Well   No.   1 — Green, 
(iravity 26.8°   Beaumg 

Viscosity  at  GS°  F , 8.35  Engler  (water,  1) 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  a  dull  green  color  and  bland  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  small  sample  distilled  from  glass  to  518°  F.  Residue  reduced  to  "D"  asphalt 
(40  penetration)  by  open  evaporation,  and  asphalt  weighed.  The  yield  of 
asphalt  is  corrected  for  oxidation.     The  original  figures  are : 

Below  212°  F 1 3.1  per  cent 

212   to  302° 10.4  per  cent  54.0°  Beaum€ 

302   to   518° 27.5  per  cent  39.0° 

Residue    above   518° _  59.0  per  cent  15.9° 

100.0  per  cent 
Asphalt    11.65  grams  per  100  C.C. 

This  is  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61.0°Beaume  5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  8  per  cent 

Kerosene   42.0°  18  per  cent 

Stove  oil  and  lubricants 60  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  9  per  cent  or  32  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  per  cent 

Silverthread  or  Sisar  Wells. 

This  group  of  wells  takes  the  name  of  Silverthread  from  the  old 
placer  mining  district  of  that  name,  and  Sisar  (pronounced  locally 
''see-saw")  from  the  creek  and  caiion  lying  to  the  west  and  south.  The 
name  Astarte,  applied  properly  only  to  the  earlier  wells  on  the  West- 
lake  Rommel  lease,  is  that  of  a  minor  caiion  crossing  Lot  1  of  section  18. 

This  group  consists  of  wells  of  the  Hilltop,  Hillside  Crude,  Pyramid, 
and  Capitol  Crude  Oil  companies,  and  the  Bard  Oil  &  Asphalt  Company, 
lying  on  the  western  end  of  Raneho  Ojai,  and  the  surveyed  land  imme- 
diately north.  The  raneho  here  consists  of  the  narrow  valley  of  Sisar 
Creek,  and  terminates  where  the  latter  enters  Santa  Paula  Creek. 
South  of  Sisar  Creek  are  a  number  of  large  brea  beds,  fed  by  live 
seepages  of  medium  gravity  black  oil,  but  the  small  amount  of  drilling 
done  on  these  seepages  has  so  far  been  unproductive  of  results.  One 
such  seepage  lies  north  of  the  creek,  on  the  little  flat  between  the  creek 
bed  and  the  north  line  of  Raneho  Ojai,  and  on  this  seepage  a  number 
of  the  shallow  wells  of  the  Bard  Oil  &  Asphalt  Company  are  located. 
The  other  wells  of  this  group  lie  in  a  generally  east  and  west  line  north 
of  this  tar  bed,  and  on  the  south  slope  of  the  hills  which  form  the  north 
side  of  Sisar  Caiion,  these  hills  being  the  lowest  portion  of  the  main 
Topa  Topa  range.  As  the  hills  are  steep  and  the  producing  formation 
dips  to  the  north  at  a  steep  angle,  the  producing  strip  is  but  a  narrow 
one,  less  than  one  half  mile  at  its  greatest  extension,  and  at  present  is 

♦Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 


EX-MISSION,    STLVERTHEEAD    AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  75 

developed  for  a  length  of  some  one  and  one  half  miles,  though  not 
definitely  limited  at  either  end,  as  Will  be  shown. 

Old  Wells — Union  Oil  Company  " Sisar"  and  "No.  6"  Leases — Sisar 
Oil  &  Asphalt  Company.  Between  Bear  Caiion  and  the  west  line  of  the 
Capitol  Crude  property  a  number  of  wells  appear  to  have  been  drilled, 
the  records  of  which  are  now  very  scattering  and  confused. 

In  the  1887  report  of  the  State  Mineralogist  the  following  note  is 
given :  "About  a  mile  farther  up  Sisar  Creek  (from  the  Sulphur  Spring) 
is  located  a  group  of  oil  wells  called  collectively  'Ojai  No.  6.'  There  are 
here  now  five  or  six  old  wells  pumping  an  aggregate  of  some  eight  or 
nine  barrels  per  day  of  a  very  dark,  greenish-brown  oil"  *  *  * 
"These  wells  are  in  the  midst  of  extensive  asphaltum  deposits  and  tar 
springs.  Their  depth  varies  from  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  to 
something  over  five  hundred  feet.  But  there  is  one  dry  hole  here  about 
one  thousand  two  hundred  feet  deep. ' ' 

In  the  1890  report,  along  with  a  number  of  new  wells,  the  following 
are  described:  "Ojai  No.  1  is  located  on  the  Ojai  lease.  It  is  drilled 
tq  a  depth  of  600  feet,  and  is  dry.  See-Saw  (Sisar)  No.  1  is  located 
about  500  feet  east  of  Ojai  No.  1.  It  was  drilled  to  a  depth  of  900  feet, 
and  produces  ten  barrels  daily.  See-Saw  No.  2  is  located  about  400 
feet  from  No.  1.  It  has  reached  a  depth  of  400  feet,  and  is  still  being 
drilled. "  It  is  quite  apparent  that  these  welk  are  not  the  same  as  the 
ones  above  described. 

In  the  1896  report  two  separate  groups  of  wells  in  the  Ojai  country 
are  described  as  follows  : 

"Bard  (Sisar)  Wells.  There  are  nine  wells,  550  to  800  feet  deep, 
about  6|  miles  northwest  of  Santa  Paula  and  immediately  west  of  the 
wells  belonging  to  the  Capitol  Crude  Oil  Company.  The  drillers  state 
that  nearly  all  these  wells  showed  a  crushed  and  disturbed  formation, 
and  that  in  one  of  them  several  feet  of  asphaltum  was  penetrated. 
Some  idea  of  the  average  life  of  the  wells  in  the  Silvertliread  District 
may  be  gathered  from  the  following  table : 

BAED   WELLS,   SILVERTHBEAD   OIL  DISTRICT. 

Yield  Yield  iu 

when  completed,         June,  1895, 

Wells.  Drilled.  Depth.  barrels  per  day.  barrels  per  day. 

No.  2   1892  350  feet  14  5. 

No.  3   1892  3.50  feet  5  3 

No.  4    __  -s —  1894  450  feet      •  8  5 

No.  5   __I 1893  420  feet  20  6 

No.  6   1' 1893  420  feet  12  3^ 

No  7   1893  350  feet  8  1^ 

No.  8 1893  750  feet-  3  li 

No.  9   1893  750  feet  5  0 

No.  10   1894  658  feet  3  Ih 

"Two  varieties  of  oil  are  obtained  from  these  wells — one  of  high 
specific  gravity  from  the  shallowest  welLs,  and  one  of  somewhat  lower 
specific  gravity  from  the  deepest  wells.  Sisar  Oil  and  Asphalt  Com- 
pany, of  Hueneme.  owner." 


76  PETKOLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA, 

"Union  Oil  Company's  (No.  6  lease)  wells.  They  are  in  the  Silver- 
thread  Oil  District,  about  6^  miles  northwest  of  Santa  Paula.  They 
embrace  nine  wells,  from  60  to  900  feet  deep.  In  June,  1895,  eight  of 
them  were  being  pumped ;  said  to  yield  about  600  barrels  of  oil  a  month. 
Union  Oil  Company,  owner." 

Here  are  nineteen  or  more  wells,  drilled  previous  to  1895,  of  which 
but  twelve  can  be  located.  The  best  information  obtainable  at  present 
is  that  the  wells  now  known  as  Pyramid  were  drilled  by  the  Union 
in  1885  to  1887,  and  the  first  nine  of  these  wells  are  probably  identical 
with  those  described  briefly  in  the  1896  report.  The  Sisar  wells  can  not 
be  located  so  readily.  The  wells  now  being  operated  by  the  Bard 
Oil  &  Asphalt  Company  are  reported  to  have  been  drilled  in  1896  and 
following  years,  but  the  1894  report  also  mentions  nine  wells  under  the 
name  "Sisi  Oil  Company,"  and  the  depths  given  for  the  Bard  Oil  & 
Asphalt  wells  do  not  at  all  agree  with  those  stated  in  the  1896  report  for 
the  Sisar  wells.  It  seems  probable  that  the  two  old  wells  shown  on  the 
map,  to  the  west  of  the  Bard  wells,  are  all  that  remain  of  these  Sisar 
wells,  and  it  is  likely  that  there  were  also  a  number  of  old  wells  north 
of  the  grant  line  and  west  of  the  Westlake  Rommel  wells,  of  which  the 
single  well  in  ' '  No.  6  Canon ' '  is  the  only  remainder.  A  number  of  other 
wells  appear  also  to  have  been  drilled  at  various  points  over  the  brea 
beds  along  the  east  end  of  the  ranch,  but  the  notices  are  too  vague  to 
allow  of  their  location. 

Pyramid  Oil  Company.  This  company  covers  Lots  1  and  2  in  sec- 
tion 18,  and  Lot  4  in  section  17,  or  approximately  100  acres  in  all.  The 
first  developments  were  by  the  Union  Oil  Company  of  California,  who 
drilled  the  first  eight  wells,  in  the  years  1885  to  1898.  In  this  latter 
year  it  was  leased  to  the  Westlake-Rommel  Oil  Company  of  Los  Angeles, 
who  drilled  numbers  9  to  12,  inclusive,  and  operated  the  property  until 
1909.  In  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  the  lease  passed  to  the  Pyramid 
Oil  Company  of  San  Francisco,  who  drilled  three  wells,  and  who  now 
operate  the  property. 

The  data  as  to  the  older  wells  is  scanty,  and  even  as  to  the  newer  ones 
is  less  definite  than  might  be  desired.  It  gives,  however,  some  slight 
information  as  to  the  producing  value  and  structure  of  this  north- 
dipping  formation. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  by  the  Union  Oil  Company,  in  1885,  to  a 
depth  of  960  feet,  and  was  a  producer.  It  is  now  on  the  jack,  like  all 
the  later  wells,  up  to  and  including  No.  12,  and  is  making  about  five 
barrels  per  day  of  medium  gravity  black  oil. 

Nothing  is  known  as  to  No.  2,  which  was  abandoned. 

No.  3  was  drilled  in  the  same  year  to  860  feet,  and  is  making  about 
five  barrels  of  oil  of  26°  gravity. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVERTHREAD    AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  77 

No.  4  is  an  abandoned  hole,  no  information  obtainable. 

No.  5  and  No.  6  were  drilled  in  1886,  to  depths  of  456  and  450  feet, 
respectively.  No.  5  is  producing  some  six  barrels  of  22^  oil,  and  No.  6 
about  three  barrels  of  19°  oil. 

No.  7  was  drilled  in  1887  to  960  feet,  and  is  making  about  four 
barrels  of  26°  oil. 

No.  8  was  the  last  well  of  the  Union  Oil  Company,  and  was  drilled 
in  the  year  1888,  to  a  depth  of  840  feet.  Amount  and  gravity  of  pro- 
duction are  the  same  as  for  preeeeding  well. 

Nos.  9,  10,  and  11  were  drilled  by  the  Westlake-Rommel  Oil  Com- 
pany in  the  same  j^ear.  Nos.  9  and  10  were  carried  to  approximately 
975  feet ;  No.  11  is  1010  feet  deep.  They  are  producing  four,  four 
and  five  barrels,  respectively,  of  oil  running  close  to  23°  gravity. 

No.  12  was  drilled  by  the  same  company,  date  not  known.  This  well 
was  carried  to  1007  feet,  but,  finding  no  production  below  the  top  sand, 
was  pulled  back  to  760  feet  and  plugged.  It  was  last  reported  to  be 
making  some  twelve  barrels  of  27°  oil. 

•  No.  13  was  drilled  in  1910.  and  at  a  depth  of  1685  feet  had  penetrated 
at  least  a  second  sand.  This  well  started  off  at  some  forty  barrels  per 
day.  of  oil  running  close  to  24°  Beaume,  but  rapidly  fell  off  to  about  the 
same  production  as  the  older  wells. 

No.  14,  otherwise  known  as  Pyramid  No.  1,  was  finished  in  the  latter 
part  of  1910  at  a  depth  of  1765  feet,  and  started  off  at  a  rather  heavy 
production,  reported  to  be  about  100  barrels  a  day.  Like  the  foregoing, 
it  rapidl}^  dwindled,  and  during  the  current  year  was  deepened  to 
approximately  2800  feet,  and  is  known  to  have  passed  through  a  number 
of  shallow  productive  strata,  but  details  are  not  obtainable.  It  appears 
doubtful,  however,  whether  the  results  had  at  this  depth  warrant  fur- 
ther exploitation  of  the  lower  hang  sands. 

No.  15,  or  Pyramid  No.  2,  was  drilled  in  the  current  year,  and  it 
should  be  noted,  in  connection  with  the  remarks  anent  No.  14,  that  this 
well  was  put  on  the  pump  at  some  1700  feet,  more  or  less. 

Hilltop  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  producer  near  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  southeast  forty  of  section  7.  This  well  was  drilled 
in  1910  and  is  2145  feet  deep. 

Hillside  Crude  Oil  Company  of  Santa  Paula  has  a  well  about  one 
fourth  mile  east  of  the  foregoing.  This  hole  was  drilled  by  the  North- 
ern Oil  Company  in  1902 ;  was  carried  to  1460  feet,  but  gets  its  produc- 
tion at  930  feet.  As  this  depth  is  quite  insufficient  to  reach  the  sands 
found  lower  down  the  hill,  we  are  forced  to  suppose  that  this  well 
draws  its  supply  from  a  higher  sand,  which  does  not  apparently  out- 
crop. There  are  no  evidences  of  a  second  fault  between  this  well  and 
these  to  the  south,  and  a  further  argument  against  this  theorv  is  the 


78  PETKOLEUM   m   SOUXHEKN    CALIFOENIA. 

steady  production  of  this  well,  which  started  off  at  fifteen  barrels  per 
day,  and  is  still  making  six  barrels,  after  almost  nine  years'  production. 
If  this  view  be  the  true  one,  prospecting  even  farther  to  the  north  would 
be  warranted,  but  to  determine  this  point  would  require  more  data  than 
is  now  available. 

Capital  Crude  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  twenty-two  wells 
on  the  north  half  of  section  17  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  16, 
but  very  little  information  is  to  be  had  as  to  the  depth  and  productive- 
ness of  these  holes.  Of  the  twenty-two,  six  are  abandoned  and  pulled, 
the  balance  are  producers.  Of  the  abandoned  holes  but  two  depths  are 
known,  of  No.  5  and  No.  13,  each  said  to  be  about  600  feet.  The  others 
abandoned  are  Nos.  4,  6,  10,  and  11.  Of  the  producers,  Nos.  1  and  2 
are  said  to  be  about  750  feet  deep.  Nos.  7  and  8  about  the  same.  No.  12 
is  reported  at  550  feet,  and  No.  15  at  530  feet.  No.  20,  drilled  in  1902, 
is  about  1000  feet  deep.  No.  21,  drilled  in  1909,  is  reported  at  1400 
feet,  and  No.  22,  finished  in  1910,  at  2000  feet.  The  results  on  the  last 
hole  of  this  company,  the  farthest  to  the  northeast  in  section  17,  would 
indicate  that  the  limits  of  production  in  this  direction  had  not  been 
reached,  this  well  being  reported  as  a  very  good  producer  of  light  oil. 
The  production  of  this  lease  is  given  as  1500  barrels  per  month,  of  an 
average  gravity  of  22°  Beaume. 

Bard  Oil  &  Asphalt  Company.  This  company  have  twenty-two  wells 
on  what  is  known  as  the  Tower  tract,  a  portion  of  the  Rancho  Ojai  lying 
south  of  the  Westlake-Rommel  and  Capital  Crude  wells.  These  wells 
are  north  of  the  creek,  and  range  north  and  west  from  the  brea  bed  just 
mentioned. 

Well  No.  1,  drilled  in  1896,  is  an  abandoned  well  at  600  feet. 

Well  No.  2,  drilled  in  the  same  year,  produces  four  barrels  per  day 
at  780  feet. 

Wells  Nos.  3,  4,  and  5  were  drilled  in  1897.  No.  3'  produces  three 
barrels  at  660  feet;  No.  4  makes  five  barrels  from  a  depth  of  580  feet, 
and  No.  5  three  barrels  at  800  feet. 

Nos.  6  and  7  are  abandoned  holes,  depths  about  600  feet  and  500  feet, 
respectively. 

Well  No.  8  is  an  abandoned  hole.  No.  9  is  also  abandoned,  depth  450 
feet.    The  depth  of  No.  10  is  not  known. 

Well  No.  11  is  said  to  be  good  for  four  barrels  at  780  feet.  No.  11, 
drilled  in  1899,  is  also  a  producer  at  680  feet. 

Well  No.  13  is  820  feet  deep,  a  producer. 

Well  No.  14  is  a  producer  at  720  feet. 

Well  No.  15  is  abandoned,  depth  not  known. 

Well  No.  16  is  800  feet  deep  and  a  producer. 

Well  No.  17  is  a  producer  at  960  feet. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVEKTHREAD    AND    EMPIEE    WELLS,  79 

Well  No.  18  is  a  producer  at  600  feet. 

Well  No.  19,  producing  at  810  feet,  was  drilled  in  1903. 

Well  No.  20,  a  producer,  is  610  feet  deep. 

The  two  wells  farthest  to  the  west  are  said  to  have  been  put  down 
by  the  Sisar  Oil  &  Asphalt  Company,  though  possibly  they  were,  like 
the  westernmost  well  on  the  Westlake-Rommel,  drilled  by  the  Philadel- 
phia-California Petroleum  Company.  At  any  rate,  they  are  very  old,  of 
no  great  depth,  and  still  produce  a  little  oil,  somewhat  heavier  than  the 
average  for  this  group. 

The  wells  farthest  to  the  southeast,  and  immediately  in  the  tar  bed, 
have  not  been  successful,  as  will  be  noted  from  the  map.  Strangely 
enough,  the  small  amounts  of  oil  obtained  in  these  wells  has  been  of 
about  the  same  gravity  as  that  had  from  the  deeper  wells  to  the  north. 
This  is  a  very  unusual  condition,  and  rather  hard  to  understand,  as  it 
is  the  almost  invariable  rule  that  oil  produced  from  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  a  zone  of  crushing  and  faulting,  such  as  will  produce  a 
seepage,  is  materially  heavier  than  that  found  in  the  unbroken  forma- 
tion at  even  a  slight  distance. 

It  'will  be  apparent  from  the  foregoing  that  this  territory  is  sharply 
limited  to  the  south  by  the  proximity  of  a  deep  fault  paralleling  Sisar 
Creek.  South  of  this  fault  the  later  formations  characteristic  of  Sul- 
phur Mountain  appear,  and  while  there  is  no  reason  to  deny  that  these 
later  formations  also  may  be  productive,  there  is  yet  no  direct  evidence 
that  they  will  be. 

On  the  west  the  extremely  small  productiveness  of  the  two  old  wells 
on  the  Ojai,  and  of  the  westernmost  well  of  the  Pyramid,  would  indi- 
cate a  gradual  diminution  either  in  thickness  or  saturation  of  the  sands 
in  this  direction,  and,  considering  the  output  per  well  of  the  western 
wells  of  the  main  group,  it  is  doubtful  whether  developments  between 
these  and  the  first  mentioned  would  be  profitable. 

As  to  the  north,  if  indeed  the  Hillside  well  found  a  higher  lying  and 
parallel  sand,  as  has  been  suggested,  there  are  possibilities  that  a  con- 
siderable extension  may  be  made  to  the  north.  If,  on  the  other  hand, 
this  well  found  a  "stray,"  and  the  producing  formation  must  be  found 
at  the  depth  calculated  from  the  dip  along  the  north  line  of  the  grant, 
then  it  is  highly  probable  that  no  further  development  down  the  dip 
will  be  profitable.  At  the  best,  this  formation  is  none  too  regular,  and, 
considering  the  steep  pitch  of  the  surface,  the  high  angle  of  the  sands 
and  the  presence  of  considerable  water  in  the  deeper  wells,  drilling  is 
neither  easy  nor  cheap,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  wells  of,  say,  ten 
barrels  output  at  a  depth  of  1800  to  2000  feet  can  ever  be  very  profit- 
able. As  to  the  east,  there  seem  to  be  some  probabilities  of  an  extension 
in  a  northeasterly  direction. 


80  PETEOLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Quality  of  the  Silverthread  Oils. 

The  oils  of  the  Silverthread  group  range  in  gravity  from  about  19° 
to  almost  28^  Beaume,  but  the  only  sample  available  of  the  lowest  gravity 
was  accidentall}^  destroyed.  The  analyses  given  below,  however,  cover 
a  range  from  21.6°  to  27.3°  Beaume,  and  very  fairly  represent  the  bulk 
of  the  output  of  this  group,  the  production  of  oil  of  the  lowest  gravity 
being  very  small. 

All  these  oils  are  similar  in  appearance,  being  very  limpid,  of  a 
brownish  black  color  with  a  greenish  tinge,  very  similar  to  that  of  the 
upper  oils  from  the  East  Side,  Coalinga.  They  all  have  the  same  odor, 
rather  pungent  and  gassy,  and  very  distinct  from  the  flat  odor  of  the 
green  oils  of  the  Ex-Mission. 

The  analyses  given  below,  while  they  go  no  farther  than  the  commer- 
cial fractions,  betray  considerable  similarity  in  structure,  and  it  is 
highly  probable  that  these  oils  come  from  an  identical  source,  and  differ 
only  in  the  relative  percentage  of  light  and  heavy  elements,  this  differ- 
ence being  ascribable  to  comparatively  slight  differences  in  the  forma- 
tions from  which  they  are  produced  or  through  which  they  have  traveled. 

These  oils  are  all  of  good  refining  quality,  giving  fair  to  high  yields 
of  light  products,  distilling  freely,  and  giving  usable  heavy  stocks, 
though  these  are  not  of  the  highest  grade.  The  percentage  of  asphalt 
throughout  is  normal  for  the  gravity. 

It  is  a  rather  peculiar  circumstance  that  no  paraffin  whatever  appears 
in  the  lubricating  stock  from  any  of  the  oils  of  this  group.  This  dis- 
tinguishes them  clearly  from  the  oils  of  Bardsdale,  which  otherwise  they 
resemble  considerably. 

5475.* 
Capitol    Crude   Oil    Company.      Well    No.   21. 

Gravity _21.6°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  brownish  black  color,  with  a  gassy  and  penetrating  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
stream  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dryness. 

First  cut 9.8  per  cent  51.5°  Beaume 

Second  cut 13.7  per  cent  40.2° 

Third  cut 8.6  per  cent  .    30.2° 

Fourth  cut 62.8  per  cent  19.5° 

Fixed   carbon    5.1  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 
♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVERTHREAD    AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  81 

The  carbon  is  calculated  to  the  corresponding  weight  of  "  D  "  asphalt 
by  the  usual  factor,  and  the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas.  The 
above  figures  are  roughly  equal  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  10.0  pei-  cent 

Kerosene   42.0°  11.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil   33.0°  11.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28.5°  22.1  per  cent  j    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 13.1°  33.1  per  cent  ^    19.5°— 55.2% 

Asphalt   "D"  12.8  per  cent  or  45  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  refine  well,  giving  finished  oils  of 
water-white  color  and  mild,  sweet  odor.  The  lubricating  stock  holds  up 
well  in  the  crude  distillation,  and  on  steaming  down  gives  a  reduced 
stock  of  medium  viscosity  and  good  color,  which  treats  out  with  the 
standard  dose  of  acid  (30  pounds  per  barrel)  to  a  dark  red  engine  oil. 
with  a  fair  green  outertone,  of  medium  viscosity  and  18.1°  gravity. 

This  is  a  normal  oil  for  its  gravity,  giving  good  products  at  both 
ends,  with  a  yield  of  asphalt  rather  below  the  average,  and  only  a  small 
proportion  of  middlings. 

4428.* 

Capitol  Crude  Oil  Company.     V^ell   No.  17. 

Gravity 22.7°   Beaumg 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  brownish  black  color,  and  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distillation  to  dryness. 

First  cut 11.3  per  cent  50.9°  Beaumg 

Second  cut 12.9  per  cent  43.3° 

Third  cut 9.6  per  cent  34.2° 

Fourth  cut 60.1  per  cent  21.6° 

Fixed  carbon   6.1  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

Carbon  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  lubricating 

stock  reduced  in  a  current  of  gas.    This  gives  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  10.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  15.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  9.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 32.8°  15.2  percent^    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.0°  35.5  per  cent  \    21.6°— 50.7% 

Asphalt   "D"  15.3per  cent  or  53  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 

7—63 


82  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  were  not  tested,  but  appeared  to  be 
of  the  usual  quality.  The  lubricating  stock  was  of  good  quality,  and 
distilled  freely.    This  is  a  normal  oil  for  the  gravity. 

4430.* 
Bard    Oil    and    Asphalt    Company.      Well    No.    12. 

Gravity 24.0°   Beaum€ 

This  is  a  limpid  oil,  of  a  brownish  black  color,  and  penetrating,  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
cui'rent  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dryness. 

First  cut 5.4  per  cent  60.7  Beaum6 

Second  cut 5.4  per  cent  53.4° 

Third  cut 15.0  per  cent  41.8° 

Fourth  cut 8.6  per  cent  32.8° 

Fifth  cut 59.8  per  cent  21.8° 

Fixed  carbon   5.8  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

Carbon  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  last  cut  reduced 
in  a  current  of  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°Beaum6  5.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate : 52.0°  7.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  15.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 83.0°  8.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.7°  16.8  per  cent   /    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.8°  33.7  per  cent   (,    21.8°— 50.5% 

Asphalt "D"  14.5  per  cent  or  51  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  were  not  tested,  but  were  of  normal 
appearance.  The  lubricating  stock  distilled  freely  and  treated  well. 
This  is  a  normal  oil  for  the  gravity. 

4432.t 
Pyramid  Oil   Company.      Westlake- Rommel    No.  4. 

Gravity 25.3°   Beaum6 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  brovrnish  black  color  and  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dryness. 

First  cut 10.3  per  cent  60.9°  Beaum6 

Second  cut 5.8  per  cent  51.9° 

Third   cut   13.7  per  cent  41.7° 

Fourth  cut 8.2  per  cent  32.2° 

Fifth  cut 55.0  per  cent  21.3° 

Fixed  carbon 7.0  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 


100.0  per  cent 


"Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
fAnalysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVEETHREAD   AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  83 

Carbon  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor.  Lubricating  .stock 
reduced  in  a  current  of  gas.  This  gives  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°Beaume  10.3  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  5.S  per  cent 

Kerosene   42.0°  13.7  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0"  S.2  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 32.9°  13.3  per  cent   f    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.0°  31.2  per  cent   \    31.3°— 44.5% 

Asphalt 'D"  17.5  per  cent  or  61.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  lighter  oils  from  this  crude  do  not  come  up  to  color  in  treatment 
as  readily  as  usual,  but  are  sweet.  The  heavy  distillate  runs  readily 
and  without  much  cracking,  and  the  percentage  of  middlings  is  very 
low.  The  reduced  stock  is  of  good  color  and  fair  viscosity,  and  treats 
out  with  the  usual  dose  of  acid  to  a,  bright  red  engine  oil,  of  fine  green 
outertone,  medium  viscosity,  and  18.9 "^  gravity. 

This  is  an  unusually  good  oil  for  the  gravity,  giving  high  yields  at  the 
ends  and  low  yields  of  middle  oils.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  asphalt  is 
higher  than  the  average  for  this  gravity  and  location. 


4429.* 

Pyramid  Oil  Company.      Pyramid   No.  2. 

Gravity 25.5°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  brownish  black  color  and  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
stream  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 8.8  per  cent  61.5°  Beaume 

Second  cut S.S  per  cent  51.9° 

Third  cut 1 12.9  per  cent  42.0° 

Fourth  cut 8.1  per  cent  33.3° 

Fifth  cut 57.0  per  cent  22.1° 

Fixed  carbon 4.4  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

100.0  per  cent 

Carbon  calculated  to   asphalt  by   the  usual   factor.     Heavy   stock 
reduced  in  a  current  of  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  9.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  9.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  13.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  8.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.7°  16.4  per  cent  /    Slop  distillate 

Lubricating  stock 14.8°  32.1  per  cent  s    22.1° — 48.5% 

Asphalt   "D"  11.0  per  cent  or  39  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

•Analysis  by  J.   P.   P. 


Si  PETROLEUM    TN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

The  lighter  products  from  this  crude  refine  very  readily,  giving  water- 
white  and  sweet  products.  The  lubricating  stock  is  only  fairly  stable, 
and  is  rather  bluish  and  dark  in  color,  as  is  also  the  reduced  stock.  The 
viscosity  of  the  latter,  however,  is  good,  and  it  treats  out  with  the  test 
acid  to  a  16.4°  red  engine  oil  of  a  good  viscosity,  and  a  very  handsome 
cherry  red  color  with  strong  green  overtone. 

This  crude  shows  only  a  fair  analysis  for  an  oil  of  this  gravity,  but  is 
readily  handled. 

5476.* 

Capitol  Crude  Oil  Company.      Well   No.  8. 

Gravity 26.2°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  brownish  black  color,  and  gassy,  penetrating  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a  cur- 
rent of  inert  gas.     Distillation  to  dryness. 

First  cut 10.2  per  cent  59.3°  Beaume 

Second  cut 13.5  per  cent  49.0° 

Third  cut 13.1  per  cent  35.8° 

Fourth  cut 52.9  per  cent  18.7° 

Fixed  carbon 9.9  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil 

99.(5  per  cent 

Carbon  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor.  Last  cut  reduced 
in  a  current  of  gas.  These  figures  are  very  roughly  equal  to  the  fol- 
lowing commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline Gl.O"  Beaume  7.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  13.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  9.0  per  cent 

vStove  oil 33.0°  8.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.0°  14.0  per  cent  )    Slop  distillate 

Lubricating  .stock 13.3°  24.0  per  cent  i[    18.7°— 38.0% 

A.sphalt   "D"  24.8  per  cent  or  87  lbs.  per  bbl. 

99.8  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  treat  very  readily  to  water-white, 
sweet  oils.  The  percentage  of  middlings  is  very  low,  and  of  asphalt 
very  high  for  an  oil  of  this  gravity. 

The  lubricating  distillate  cracks  somewhat,  but  comes  over  with  a 
good  color  and  medium  viscosity.  The  reduced  stock  is  of  a  dull  color, 
low  gravity,  and  high  viscosity.  The  engine  oil  from  this  stock  is  a 
rather  dark  red  color,  with  a  fine  green  outertone,  has  a  high  viscosity 
with  a  low  cold  test,  and  shows  the  gravity  16.4°  Beaume. 

The  light  end  of  this  oil  is  rather  smaller  than  is  usual  with  oils  of 
this  gravity,  and  the  heavy  end  of  the  crude  is  the  best.  On  the  whole, 
it  is  a  very  fair  refining  oil. 

♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


EX-MISSION,    SILVERTHREAD    AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  85 

7415.* 

Capitol    Crude   Oil    Company.      Well    No.   20. 
Gravity 27.3°   Beaum^ 

Viscosity  at  60°  F r 2.23  Redwood  (water,  1) 

Viscosity  at  180°  F 1.24  Redwood  (water,  1) 

Flash  point Below  G0°  F.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°  F 9.0  per  cent  63.9°  Beaume 

212  to  302° 16.5  per  cent  51.3° 

302  to  392° 11.8  per  cent  0.8° 

392  to  482° 7.7  per  cent  32.6° 

482  to  572° 9.1  per  cent  27.3° 

572°  to  grade 31.8  per  cent  26.9° 

Asphalt 13.0  per  cent  Grade  "D"   (about) 

Loss    0.1  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline   61°  Beaume  11  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  13  per  cent 

Kerosene    42°  13  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  S  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants 27°  42  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt 13  per  cent 

100  per  cent 
O'Hara  or  Paula  Wells. 

Lewis  &  Jones  Oil  Company — Golden  West  Oil  Company — Paula  Oil 
Company.  The  small  and  isolated  group  of  wells  on  the  northwest 
quarter  section  22,  4r-21  consists  of  four  producers  and  one  abandoned 
hole  drilled  many  years  ago,  and  one  producer  and  one  abandoned  hole 
of  late  date.  In  1892  and  1893  two  deep  and  three  shallower  holes  were 
drilled  by  Lewis  &  Jones,  or  the  Jones  Oil  Company  of  Los  Angeles. 
Later  the  lease  passed  to  the  Golden  West  Oil  Company,  who  apparently 
did  no  drilling.  Still  later,  and  for  a  number  of  years,  the  property  was 
operated  by  Mr.  Ed  0  'Hara  of  Santa  Paula,  and  in  1910  passed  to  the 
Paula  Oil  Company,  who  drilled  a  crooked  hole  and  a  deep  producer. 

Well  No.  1  of  the  Lewis  &  Jones  Company  was  drilled  in  the  latter 
part  of  1892,  and  is  said  to  have  yielded  originally  900  barrels  per  month, 
but  in  June,  1895,  was  credited  with  300  barrels  per  month.  At  present 
this  well  is  pumped  about  four  hours  per  day,  and  yields  but  a  very 
small  quantity  of  oil.  This  well  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1170  feet,  and 
found  oil  at  575  feet,  705  feet,  805  feet,  965  feet,  1100  feet,  and  1155 
feet.  A  full  log  of  this  well  is  given  on  page  37  of  Bulletin  11,  Cali- 
fornia State  Mining  Bureau. 

♦Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


86  PETEOLETJM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA, 

Well  No.  2  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1125  feet,  and  stopped  in  running 
sand.  This  well  found  oil  at  190  feet,  and  854  feet,  but  drew  its  prin- 
cipal supply  from  the  upper  sand.  Though  this  well  was  but  700  feet 
southwesterly  from  No.  1,  there  is  a  notable  lack  of  correspondence  in  the 
logs.  In  June,  1895,  it  was  said  to  be  yielding  about  one  barrel  per  day 
of  rather  hea\'y  oil,  from  the  sand  found  between  190  feet  and  215  feet. 
This  well  is  still  being  pumped. 

The  depths  of  Nos.  3,  4,  and  5  can  not  be  learned,  but  the  shallowest 
of  the  three  is  said  to  be  430  feet  deep.  Nos.  3  and  4  are  still  on  the 
jack,  but  were  not  being  pumped  when  last  visited.  No.  5  had  already 
been  abandoned  in  1903. 

Well  No.  5B  was  drilled  by  the  Paula  Oil  Company  in  1910.  This 
well  is  located  south  of  the  ridge  road,  on  the  flat  just  north  of  the 
creek  bed.  This  is  reported  as  a  crooked  hole  at  600  feet,  and  is 
abandoned. 

Well  No.  6  was  started  in  the  same  year.  It  was  carried  to  a  depth 
of  2200  feet,  but  gets  all  its  oil  from  a  depth  approximating  800  feet, 
the  hole  being  entirely  barren  below.    This  well  is  being  pumped. 

In  1895  the  production  of  this  lease,  with  five  wells,  is  given  at  3000 
barrels  per  month.  In  1900  the  production  is  said  to  have  been  400 
barrels  per  month.  At  present  the  production  is  not  exactly  known,  but 
is  apparently  about  what  it  was  in  1900.  The  gravity  of  the  oil  is  about 
19°  Beaume— a  full  analj^sis  is  given  in  a  later  chapter. 

The  formation  on  the  surface  at  the  location  of  these  wells  dips 
sharply  to  the  north,  and  the  records  of  drilling  seem  to  bear  out  the 
conclusion  that  the  wells  were  drilled  very  nearly  on  the  outcrop  of  the 
sands.  The  well  of  the  Pure  Oil  Company,  immediately  to  the  north, 
went  1900  feet  to  get  the  same  sand,  and  found  it  more  productive  and 
carrying  a  much  lighter  oil.  The  results  from  Well  No.  6  seem  to  bar 
any  likelihood  of  finding  an  underlying  sand,  and  it  is  apparent  that 
^ny  further  prospecting  must  be  done  to  the  east  and  west,  along  the 
strike,  or  to  the  north,  down  the  dip  of  the  formation. 

Scattering  Wells. 

Immediately  west  of  the  location  of  the  Paula  wells,  the  Union  Oil 
Company  in  1886  drilled  two  holes  on  the  Herman  Ahnlauf  tract  in 
section  21.  The  first  was  a  spoiled  hole  at  300  feet,  the  second  reached 
warm  flowing  water  at  1700  feet.  This  water  carried  small  quantities 
of  very  heavy  oil,  so  heavy  as  to  sink  to  the  bottom  of  the  tank  into 
which  water  was  allowed  to  flow.  This  well  is  still  making  water  and 
some  gas,  and  is  carrying  a  little  oil,  perhaps  one  barrel  a  day,  Avhich 
seems  to  be  somewhat  lighter  than  the  oil  originally  produced. 


EX-MISSION",    SILVEKTHKEAD   AND    EMPIRE    WELLS.  87 

Fleischer  Oil  Company.  Near  the  center  of  section  9,  and  in  a  branch 
of  Santa  Paula  Canon,  the  Fleischer  Oil  Company  were  drilling  in 
1910.  No  reports  as  to  the  results  from  this  well  have  been  received. 
This  test  is  interesting,  being  far  to  the  north  of  any  other  development 
in  this  township. 

Ventura  Oil  Company.  The  most  northerly  well  in  this  township  is 
a  hole  on  the  old  Vulture  claim,  in  the  extreme  southeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 4.  This  well  is  said  to  have  been  drilled  in  1895  with  a  spring 
pole,  to  a  depth  of  80  feet,  and  to  now  have  60  feet  of  oil  standing  in 
the  casing. 

Another  hole  credited  to  this  company,  or  one  of  similar  name,  is 
located  at  the  junction  of  a  northerly  trending  canon  with  Santa  Paula 
Creek,  just  north  of  the  south  line  of  section  9.  No  information  as  to 
this  hole  can  be  had. 

Chicago  Petroleum  Company.  In  the  southeast  corner  of  the  same 
section,  and  on  the  hillside  southeast  of  Santa  Paula  Caiion,  the  Chicago 
Petroleum  Company  drilled  a  952-foot  docy  hole  in  1902. 

Ferndale  Oil  and  Petroleum  Company.  This  company  drilled  a 
shallow  hole  in  the  year  1902,  on  the  Dietz  property  (Ferndale  Kanch), 
near  the  center  of  section  16.  The  depth  of  this  hole  is  uncertain,  but 
is  reported  at  590  feet — no  results. 

Woods  ivell.  The  well  at  the  extreme  southeast  corner  of  the  Rancho 
Ojai,  on  the  east  bank  of  Santa  Paula  Creek,  is  known  locally  as  the 
Woods  well,  and  is  stated  to  have  been  drilled  in  1904,  to  a  depth  of 
1400  feet.  This  well  is  said  to  have  been  abandoned  as  non-productive, 
though  it  is  now  flowing  a  little  heavy  oil.  It  may  possibly  have  been 
drilled  by  the  Hartford  Oil  Company. 

Near  the  southeast  corner  of  section  16,  F.  H.  Allen  drilled  two  wells 
at  about  the  same  time.  Nothing  can  be  learned  as  to  the  results  from 
these  wells,  which  have  been  abandoned — they  appear  to  have  been  dry. 

Paxton  Gold  Bond  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  15,  in  1902.  The  hole  was  carried  to  1100  feet, 
without  any  traces  of  oil. 

Chicago  Ferndale  Oil  Company.  In  the  same  year,  this  company 
drilled  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  same  canon,  near  the  center  of  the 
west  line  of  section  15.     This  hole  was  dry  at  1700  feet. 

Acquila  Oil  and  Mineral  Company.  This  company  drilled  to  a  depth 
of  300  feet,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 15.    This  rig  was  lost  by  fire,  and  never  replaced. 

Hartford  Oil  Company.  Close  to  the  Acquila  location,  the  Hartford 
Oil  Company  drilled  in  1901,  abandoning  at  1250  feet  because  of  crooked 
hole.    No  oil  found. 


bo  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Pure  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  1901,  on  the  south  line 
of  section  15,  and  just  north  of  the  Paula  wells.  The  depth  of  the 
hole  is  reported  as  1906  feet,  and  the  initial  production  as  thirty  bar- 
rels of  oil,  approximating  30°  gravity.  This  well  was  on  the  pump  in 
1903,  but  the  rig  was  destroyed  some  time  since  and  has  not  been 
replaced. 

Mupu  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  1910,  at  the  foot  of 
the  hills  east  of  Santa  Paula  Creek,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 27.  It  is  reported  that  this  hole  reached  a  depth  of  1400  feet,  and 
obtained  traces  of  oil.  Well  was  rigged,  but  not  operating  when  last 
visited. 

California  Crude  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  hole  reported 
to  be  580  feet  deep,  drilled  at  about  the  same  time,  just  southwest  of  the 
above. 

Cooper  Oil  Company.  A  well  was  drilled  in  1909  on  the  lands  of 
Florence  Cooper,  or  the  Cooper  Oil  Company,  on  the  southeast  forty 
of  section  34.  Well  said  to  have  been  drilled  by  Cheseborough  &  Gold- 
ner,  depth  950  feet — no  results. 

Davis  &  Remington.  In  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  20  is  a  well  said  to  have  been  drilled  before  1884  by 
Davis  &  Remington.    This  hole  is  reported  to  have  been  dry  at  1600  feet. 

Empire  or  Loma  Wells. 

Along  the  line  between  sections  13  and  24,  and  extending  into  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  14,  and  the  southwest  corner  of  section  18, 
4—20,  the  Empire  Oil  Company  of  Los  Angeles  have  five  producing  wells, 
fourteen  abandoned  and  one  drilling.  No  information  as  to  these  wells 
could  be  had,  but  they  are  believed  to  range  from  1000  to  1500  feet  in 
depth.  The  central  group  were  drilled  in  the  eighties  by  the  Loma 
Oil  Company  and  were  steady  small  producers  for  many  years.  Timber 
Canon  No.  3,  in  section  18,  4-20,  was  drilled  in  1901  to  a  depth  of  1100 
feet,  and  has  since  been  a  producer.  The  West  End  wells  were  drilled 
later.  The  oil  from  this  lease  is  very  light,  much  of  it  running  above  35° 
gravity,  as  shown  by  analyses  below.  There  is  nothing  to  indicate  that 
the  limits  of  this  producing  strip  have  been  reached  at  either  end  (east 
or  west). 

Santa  Clara  Oil  and  Development  Company.  This  company  is 
drilling  on  the  north  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  13,  about 
one  quarter  mile  north  of  the  nearest  Empire  well. 

Santa  Paula  Gravity  Oil  Company.  In  the  northwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 20,  4-20,  on  a  steep  hillside  east  of  Timber  Canon,  a  well  was  drilled 


EX-MISSION,    SILVERTHEEAD    AND    EMPIRE   WELLS.  89 

in  1902  by  the  Santa  Paula  Gravity  Oil  Company  of  San  Francisco. 
This  well  was  abandoned  at  800  feet,  without  any  known  results. 

Ventura  Oil  Company.  South  and  a  little  east  of  the  foregoing  is  a 
well  said  to  have  been  drilled  in  1899  by  the  Ventura  Oil  Company,  or 
Ventura  Oil  and  Land  Company.  Reported  to  have  had  traces  of  light 
oil  at  about  900  feet,  and  to  have  been  abandoned  because  of  mechanical 
troubles. 

QUALITY  OF  O'HARA  OR  PAULA  OILS. 

A  full  analysis  of  the  average  oil  now  being  produced  by  this  lease 
will  be  found  in  Chapter  22.  The  following  analyses,  made  in  the  year 
1895,  though  incomplete,  will  be  interesting  as  showing  the  character 
of  the  oil  when  the  wells  were  younger.  The  heavier  grade  of  oil, 
described  in  No.  7490,  is  not  now  being  pumped,  and  was  probably 
drawn  from  one  of  the  shallow  wells  now  abandoned. 

74S9.* 

Lewis  &  Jones  Oil   Company   (now  Paula   Oil   Company). 

Gravity ^ 18.4°  Beaume  (0.9435  sp.  gr. ) 

This  sample  was  collected   and   analyzed  in  the  year  1895,  when  the   wells   had 
been  producing  about  two  years.     The  number  of  the  well   from  which  sample  was 
taken  is  not  stated. 
Distillation. 

This  sample  was  distilled  dry,  from  a  glass  flask  or  retort,  but  no  details  as 
to  methods  are  given. 

Below  1.50°  C Traces 

1.50  to  200° 5.6  per  cent  49.9°  Beaume 

200  to  250° 6.4  per  cent  44.3° 

250  to  300° 14.4  per  cent  34.1° 

300  to  350° 6.0  per  cent  30.3° 

Residue 67.6  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  2.6  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  9.4  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  ,  20.4  per  cent 

Residue    67.6  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

7490.* 

Lewis  &  Jones  Oil   Company   (now  Paula   Oil   Company). 

Gravity 13.3°  Beaume   (0.9769  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1895,  when  the  wells  had  been 
producing  about  two  years.  The  number  of  the  well  from  which  the  sample  was 
taken  is  not  stated. 

♦Analysis  by  W.  L.  "Watts. 


90  PETEOLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Distillation. 

This  sample  was  distilled  dry,  from  a  glass  flask  or  retort,  but  no  details  as 
to  methods  are  given. 

Below  150°  C Traces 

150   to   200° Traces 

200   to   250° Traces 

250  to  300° 13.0  per  cent  34.1°  Beaume 

300  to  350° 3.0  per  cent  Not  recorded 

Residue 81.0  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

As  the  great  bulk  of  tliis  oil  lies  in  the  residue,  which  was  not  frac- 
tionated, the  deductions  to  be  drawn  from  these  figures  hardly  go 
farther  than  to  show  that  no  light  products  were  present. 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  16.0  per  cent 

Residue 84.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


SESPE   AND   HOPPER   CANON   WELLS.  91 


CHAPTER  V. 

SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS. 

Township  5-20. 

The  south  line  of  this  township  and  of  that  to  the  west  coincide 
closely  with  a  high  ridge,  north  of  which  lies  the  canon  of  Sespe  Creek. 
This  caiion,  the  southern  wall  of  which  is  everywhere  very  steep,  is  an 
alternation  of  narrow  caiions  and  small  valleys,  the  latter  well  watered, 
fertile,  and  of  great  beauty.  Near  the  west  line  of  this  to-wnship  Sespe 
Creek  enters  a  narrow  gorge,  which  prevents  communication  from  the 
lower  end,  and  renders  the  valleys  farther  up  the  creek  accessible  only 
from  the  west,  from  IMatilija,  or  over  the  ridge  east  of  this  point,  from 
Nordhoff.  On  section  22  the  gorge  widens  to  an  irregular  valley,  and 
in  this  valley,  in  section  26,  Sespe  Creek  receives  the  waters  of  Tar 
Creek,  and,  bending  abruptly  to  the  south,  enters  another  gorge,  kno^vn 
locally  as  Big  Sespe  Cafion,  and  terminating  south  of  the  to-^Tiship  line 
in"  the  flat  but  narrow  valley  debouching  at  the  town  of  Fillmore.  The 
lower  Sespe  Valley,  comprising  parts  of  sections  22,  23,  24,  and  26,  is 
thus  accessible  from  the  south,  by  means  of  a  rather  rough  road  through 
the  lower  gorge,  while  Eose  Valley  and  other  valleys  farther  to  the  west 
are,  as  said,  open  to  communication  only  at  the  west  end. 

Sespe  Creek  is  fed  entirely  by  streams  from  the  north,  the  south  side 
of  the  caiion  being  a  very  steep  ridge,  draining  almost  entirely  to  the 
south  side,  and  therefore  away  from  the  creek.  The  north  side  of  the 
caiion,  however,  slopes  more  gently  away  to  the  high  mountains,  and 
consists  of  rough,  wooded  hills,  watered  by  clear  streams,  and  by  many 
hot  and  cold  springs. 
Geology. 

Sespe  Caiion  appears  to  follow  a  main  east  and  west  fault  line,  ter- 
minating, or  rather  cross-faulted,  along  the  east  line  of  sections  2  and 
35.  North  of  the  east  and  west  fault,  the  formations  exposed  are  brown 
sandstone  and  shale  of  the  J\Iiddle  Sespe  period,  and  dip  with  some  regu- 
larity to  the  north.  East  of  the  cross  fault,  the  rocks  exposed  are  red 
and  gray  sandstones  of  Lower  Sespe  age,  dipping  mainly  to  the  east. 
South  of  the  main  fault,  the  characteristic  rocks  are  quartzites  and  shale, 
mainly  of  Topa  Topa  age,  and  dip  generally  to  the  south.  I\Iuch  of  the 
sandstone  brought  to  the  surface  by  these  movements  is  a  hard  brown- 
stone  of  great  durability,  valuable  as  a  building  material,  and  worked 
for  that  purpose  in  Big  Sespe  Caiion.  This  broT\Tistone,  by  its  resist- 
ance to  erosion,  has  strongly  characterized  the  surface  of  this  country, 
and  from  this  material  is  carved  the  very  striking  and  beautiful  gorges 
both  above  and  below  section  23. 


92  pirrROLKUM  in  soutiikrx  California. 

The  presence  of  petroleum  in  Sespe  Canon  was  betrayed  by  seepages 
of  very  heavy  oil,  naturally  occurring  along  the  fault  lines.  The  wells 
drilled  close  to  these  lines  have,  as  a  rule,  produced  some  oil,  though  in 
some  cases  only  in  small  quantity.  Three  or  four  wells  drilled  further 
back,  and  apparently  on  unbroken  formation,  have  not  been  successful, 
but  the  detail  geology  of  this  country  is  too  little  known  to  warrant  an 
opinion  as  to  the  accessibility  of  the  oil  measures  from  which  these 
seepages  are  fed.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  prospects  do  not  lie 
east  of  the  north  and  south  fault. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — "Thirty-Six"  Claim.  This  com- 
pany drilled  the  first  well  in  Big  Sespe,  on  a  flat  lying  east  of  and 
considerably  above  the  creek.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1898,  reached  a 
depth  of  2190  feet,  and,  as  it  obtained  only  a  trace  of  tar,  was  abandoned 
when  completed.  As  this  well  lies  to  the  east  of  the  cross  fault,  and 
apparently  out  of  the  reach  of  any  seepage,  the  occurrence  of  even  a 
small  amount  of  tar  is  of  interest,  if  true,  and  a  prospect  hole  so  located 
would,  at  the  present  time,  undoubtedly  be  carried  to  a  greater  depth. 
It  may  be  pointed  out,  however,  that  such  a  report,  after  the  lapse  of 
thirteen  years,  is  none  too  certain. 

Crawford,  Henley  &  Company.  A  partnership  under  this  name 
drilled  two  holes  on  the  Tar  Hole  claim,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  35,  in  1899  and  1900.  No.  1  was  on  the  east  bank  of  the  creek, 
and  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  562  feet.  The  oil  from  this  well,  about 
four  barrels  per  day,  was  very  heavy,  about  11°  Beaume,  and  was  found 
at  120  feet,  the  hole  being  barren  below  this  depth.  No.  2  was  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  creek,  and  obtained  about  two  barrels  of  similar  oil. 
This  well  was  drilled  in  1900,  to  a  depth  of  760  feet.  Neither  of  these 
wells  has  been  operated  continuously  at  any  time. 

Sespe  Crude  Oil  Company.  This  company,  a  Los  Angeles  corpora- 
tion, drilled  in  1901  on  the  Joe  Gilbert  claim,  in  the  northeast  quarter, 
about  one  half  mile  above  the  Crawford-Henley  wells,  and  on  the  east 
side  of  the  creek.  This  well  was  1120  feet  deep,  obtained  traces  of 
heavy  oil  at  320  feet,  but  nothing  below,  and  was  abandoned. 

Sespe  Canon  Oil  Company.  A  well  was  drilled  by  this  company  in 
1902,  just  north  of  the  south  line  of  section  23,  on  land  of  the  Union 
Consolidated  Oil  Company.  This  w^ell  was  drilled  to  1800  feet,  and 
was  reported  at  the  time  to  have  thirty  feet  of  producing  sand,  but  Avas 
never  pumped,  so  far  as  can  be  learned. 

Big  Sespe  Oil  Company  of  Arizona — Union  Consolidated  Oil  Com- 
pany. These  wells  are  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  23  and  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  26,  and  appear  to  be  located  in  more  or  less 
disturbed  ground  at  the  focus  of  the  two  faults. 


HESPK   AND    HOPPER    CANON   WELLS.  93 

AVell  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1901  by  the  Union  Consolidated  Oil  Com- 
pany and  is  580  feet  deep.  An  initial  production  of  sixty  barrels  per 
day  is  reported,  but  this  is  now  much  diminished,  though  the  well  is 
still  producing. 

Well  No.  2  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  and  to  about  the  same  depth. 
It  produced  twenty  barrels  daily  for  a  time,  but  was  being  deepened 
when  last  visited. 

^¥ell  No.  3  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  to  a  depth  of  700  feet,  had  an 
initial  production  of  about  twenty-five  barrels,  and  is  still  producing. 
All  these  wells  are  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  23,  and  produce 
an  oil  of  about  14°  gravity. 

No.  4  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  and  was  the  last  well  of  the  Union 
Consolidated  Oil  Company.  It  is  at  the  junction  of  Sespe  and  Tar 
creeks,  and  is  a  producer  of  14°  oil  at  about  1000  feet. 

No.  5,  just  west  of  1  and  4,  and  No.  6,  just  north  of  2,  were  in  process 
of  drilling  in  January,  1911.  This  work  was  being  done  by  the  Big 
Sespe  Oil  Company  of  Arizona  (Los  Angeles),  successors  to  the  Union 
Consolidated  Oil  Company.  This  company  should  not  be  confused  with 
the  Big  Sespe  Oil  Company  (of  California),  who,  until  lately,  operated 
the  Razzle-Dazzle  wells,  on  section  1,  4—20. 

Pine  Mountain  well.  A  well  is  reported  to  have  been  drilled  on  Pine 
]\Iountain,  on  section  33,  7  north,  21  west,  by  T.  J.  Hook  and  others  of 
Los  Angeles.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1902,  or  thereabouts,  to  a  depth 
exceeding  2000  feet,  but  no  results  were  reported. 

Township  4-20. 

This  township  contains  no  defined  producing  group,  but  rather  the 
overlap  from  two  other  townships. 

Four  wells  in  sections  18  and  20,  belonging  properly  to  the  Empire 
or  Loma  group,  are  described  under  township  4-21. 

The  Kentuck,  Star  Oil,  and  Razzle-Dazzle  Wells  are  included  in  the 
Little  Sespe-Tar  Creek  group,  in  townships  5-19  and  4—19. 

A  few  scattering  prospect  holes  are  noted  below. 

Searchlight  Oil  Company.  On  the  Gird  claim,  northwest  quarter  of 
section  2,  on  the  west  bank  of  Sespe  Creek.  This  well  was  drilled  in 
1901,  and  abandoned  because  of  water  trouble.    No  oil — depth  650  feet. 

Flagstaff  Oil  Company  of  Flagstaff,  Arizona.  A  well  on  the  H.  F. 
Mclntyre  place,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  12,  west  of  Sespe 
Creek,  and  on  the  south  slope  of  the  ridge  dividing  this  valley  from 
Pine  Creek  Caiion.  Drilled  in  1901,  depth  1400  feet,  traces  of  oil 
reported,  abandoned. 

Arizona  Oil  Company.  A  well  on  the  G.  E.  Webb  tract,  near  the  east 
line  of  section  13.    No  data;  abandoned. 


94  PKTKOI.KUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Crude  Oil  Compamj.  On  the  M.  Fine  tract,  northeast  quarter  of 
section  24.  A  well  drilled  in  1900,  reported  580  feet ;  no  oil ;  abandoned. 
Townships  5-19  and  4-19. 

The  geology  of  the  strip  of  territory  covered  by  these  two  townships 
is,  in  its  broader  aspects,  plainly  indicated  by  the  topography.  The 
north  and  south  fault,  which  locates  the  lower  gorge  of  Big  Sespe,  con- 
tinues to  the  south  with  but  a  single  swing  to  eastward,  which  brings 
it  near  to  the  east  line  of  4—20.  Where  this  fault  occurs  in  hard  sand- 
stones it  causes  a  narrow  gorge,  but  farther  to  the  south,  from  near  the 
center  of  section  12,  4^20  to  the  town  of  Fillmore,  erosion  of  the  soft 
shales  of  the  lower  hills  has  produced  a  flat,  fan-shaped  valley,  almost 
exactly  coincident  in  bounds  with  the  old  land  grant  known  as  Sespe 
No.  2. 

It  will  be  noted  from  the  maps  that  from  the  north  and  south  center 
line  of  5-19  to  Big  Sespe  Caiion,  all  the  creeks  have  a  generally  westerly 
direction,  while  east  of  this  line  they  flow  to  the  east.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  the  crest  of  the  ridge  almost  exactly  follows  this  center  line,  drop- 
ping toward  the  south  line  of  5-19,  where  it  disappears,  merging  in  the 
general  south  slope  of  the  hills  in  the  northwestern  sections  of  4-19. 

With  some  minor  variations,  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  the  westerly 
half  of  township  5-19,  the  nine  sections  comprised  in  the  northwest 
quarter  of  4-19,  and  the  six  sections  along  the  east  line  of  5-20, 
exhibit  the  eroded  edges  of  formations  dipping  almost  due  east,  so  that 
in  passing  from  west  to  east  anywhere  within  these  limits  we  pass  over 
the  edge  of  the  strata,  from  lower  to  higher,  while  east  of  these  bounds 
we  follow  down  the  dip.  The  eastern  limit  of  this  east-dipping  fault 
block  appears  to  coincide  loosely  with  Hopper  Canon,  where  another 
long  north  and  south  fault  occurs. 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  this  general  dip  to  the  east  is  locally 
very  much  disturbed  by  folding  and  crumpling  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion, so  that  the  dips  on  the  surface,  instead  of  being  toward  the  east, 
are  actually  to  the  northeast  and  southeast.  But  it  will  be  found  a 
great  aid  to  an  understanding  of  this  complex  and  difficult  country  to 
bear  in  mind  the  conception  of  a  single  great  block,  extending  from 
Sespe  Canon  to  Hopper  Caiion,  raised  at  its  west  side,  with  its  maximum 
elevation  along  the  north  and  south  center  line  of  range  19,  and  with  its 
strata  all  dipping  primarily  to  the  eastward,  but  locally  contorted  by 
folds  and  minor  faults  with  east  and  west  axes.  While  the  location  of 
petroleum  deposits  at  particular  points  has  undoubtedly  been  governed 
mainly  by  the  location  and  shape  of  these  minor  folds,  yet  the  elevation 
to  an  accessible  distance  of  the  oil  measures  has  been  due  to  the  tipping 
up  of  this  block  at  its  w^estern  edge,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  unless 
there  are  between  Sespe  and  Hopper  other  main  north  and  south  faults 


SESPE   AND   HOPPER   CANON  WELLS.  95 

not  yet  noted,  when  once  the  limit  of  depth  of  the  formations  cropping 
along  Little  Sespe  is  passed  there  must  be  a  strip  of  barren  territory 
extending  nearly  or  quite  to  the  Hopper  Canon  fault. 

The  dip  to  the  east  is,  as  said,  varied  somewhat  by  local  disturbances, 
but,  taking  this  block  as  a  whole,  approximates  ten  degrees.  The  level 
of  Sespe  Caiion  on  section  26  is  about  1000  feet,  while  the  crest  of  the 
ridge  on  sections  9  and  16,  5-19  has  an  elevation  of  about  -1000  feet  As 
the  surface  thus  dips  sharply  to  the  west,  and  the  stratification  as 
abruptly  to  the  east,  we  have  a  long  succession  of  outcrops,  some  showing 
seepages ;  and  further,  in  drilling  for  any  given  stratum,  as  we  go  east 
the  depth  increases  by  the  surface  slope  plus  the  dip,  which  makes  the 
producing  belt  of  Tar  Creek  and  Little  Sespe  a  narrow  one. 

Most  of  the  original  wells  were  located  at  or  near  seepages,  which 
helps  to  explain  a  large  number  of  failures,  such  wells  being,  in  the 
main,  located  west  of  and  below  the  sand  gi\ang  the  seepage,  and  not 
sufficiently  deep  to  reach  a  possible  lower  sand.  It  must  be  admitted, 
however,  that,  owing  to  folding  along  east  and  west  axes,  even  such 
wells  as  did  penetrate  the  productive  sands  have  been  rather  uncertain 
in  their  output,  both  the  thickness  of  the  oil  sands  and  their  degree  of 
saturation  varying  considerably  from  well  to  well,  even  directly  along 
the  line  of  strike. 

]\Icst  of  the  new  work  is  being  done  to  the  east  of  the  old  wells,  with 
the  design  of  reaching  known  sands  at  a  greater  depth,  and  is  meeting 
with  some  success.  Some  work  is  also  being  done  to  the  north,  along 
the  line  of  outcrop  or  slightly  to  the  east,  but  has  not  yet  resulted  in 
discoveries. 

This  country  is  highly  inaccessible  except  along  the  one  road  follow- 
ing the  line  of  developments,  and  located  well  up  on  the  ridge.  As  these 
hills  are  rocln^  and  extremely  rough,  this  road  is  a  very  bad  one,  narrow, 
and  having  some  trying  grades,  and  haulage  to  the  more  northern  leases 
is  a  very  serious  item  of  cost.  Certain  advantages,  however,  which  vnll 
be  mentioned  farther  on,  have  made  this  country  attractive  to  the 
prospector  in  spite  of  its  difficulties,  and  it  is  at  present  the  scene  of 
considerable  activitv. 


DEVELOPMENTS  IN  LITTLE  SESPE-TAR  CREEK  GROUP. 

The  strip  following  the  main  seepages,  and  for  some  distance  west, 
was  originally  located,  and  in  part  proven  and  patented,  by  the  Union 
Oil  Company  of  California,  and  the  work  done  by  this  company  so  pre- 
ponderates in  quantity  that  we  must  here  depart  from  the  usual  custom 
of  working  from  northwest  to  southeast,  and  first  describe  the  work 
done  by  this  company. 


[ht  PETROl.KUM    IX    SOUTIIEKX    CALIFORNIA. 

A  very  peculiar  feature  is  encountered  here,  in  that  we  are  dealing 
with  territory  containing  a  large  number  of  wells,  manj'  once  producers, 
but  all  (excepting  at  the  extreme  south)  now  abandoned,  from  which 
fact  the  natural  inference  would  be  that  the  producing  capabilities  of 
the  country  had  been  exhausted.  Such,  however,  does  not  appear  to  be 
the  case  when  the  records  are  examined.  Some  of  these  wells,  indeed, 
were  dry  when  drilled,  and  some  were  exhausted  after  a  time,  but  many 
Avere  certainly  capable  of  commercial  production  at  the  time  they  were 
shut  down,  and  there  is  hardly  a  doubt  that  these  sands,  and  indeed 
many  of  these  old  holes,  are  now  capable  of  profitable  operation.  An 
explanation  of  this  very  unusual  circumstance  is  probably  found  in  the 
discovery,  at  the  time  of  abandonment,  of  new  and  more  prolific  fields 
elsewhere,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  these  lands  are  held  in  fee,  and 
could  be  safely  allowed  to  stand  idle. 

The  records  for  this  group  seem  to  be  very  incomplete,  and  are  largely 
withheld  from  inspection.  The  details  given  below  have  been  collected 
with  great  care,  from  original  sources,  and,  while  very  scattering,  are 
believed  to  be  accurate  so  far  as  they  go.  Wells  of  the  Union  Oil  Com- 
pany of  California  are  first  given,  divided  according  to  mining  claims 
on  which  they  are  located,  those  of  other  operators  follow,  under  com- 
pany headings.  Unless  otherwise  stated,  therefore,  the  well  mentioned 
was  drilled  and  is  owned  by  the  Union  Oil  Company. 

Union  Oil  Company's  Wells. 

Arcadia  Claim.  One  well.  Tar  Creek  No.  19,  abandoned  when 
drilled.    This  well  is  immediately  below  (west  of)  a  live  seepage. 

Twilight  Claim.  Two  wells.  Tar  Creek  Nos.  16  and  20.  No.  16  was 
drilled  in  1889  and  was  pumped  for  a  time.  It  was  abandoned  with 
the  other  wells  in  about  1900  (this  statement  also  applies  to  all  wells 
noted  below,  unless  otherwise  expressly  stated).  In  the  latter  part  of 
1910  this  well  was  cleaned  and  put  on  the  pump,  and  when  seen  was 
doing  some  thirty  barrels  per  day,  which  was  probably  much  above  its 
average  capacity.  No.  30  was  reported  to  be  also  cleaning  in  the  early 
months  of  the  current  year  (1910). 

Irelan  Claim.    One  well.  Tar  Creek  No.  18. 

Higgins  Claim.  Three  wells,  Tar  Creek  Nos.  13,  15,  and  17.  No.  13 
was  810  feet  (or  more)  deep,  and  was  abandoned  when  drilled.  No.  15 
was  a  dry  hole  at  975  feet. 

Carpenter  Claim.  Two  wells,  Tar  Creek  Nos.  11  and  14.  No.  11  was 
575  feet  deep,  and  was  probably  a  producer.  No.  14  was  a  dry  hole  at 
1690  feet. 

Black  Jack  Claim.  Six  wells,  Tar  Creek  Nos.  .4,  8,  12,  24,  31,  and  one 
not  located.    No.  4  was  520  feet  deep  and  probably  a  producer.    No.  8 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  97 

■was  probably  a  producer  at  570  feet,  and  No.  12  the  same  at  571  feet. 
No.  24  was  drilled  in  1890,  was  880  feet  deep,  and  had  an  initial  produc- 
tion of  33  barrels  per  day. 

Cesapi  Claim.  This  was  the  heart  of  the  old  producing  district,  and 
had  sixteen  wells.  Tar  Creek  Nos.  1,  2,  5,  6,  7,  9,  10,  21,  22,  23,  25.  27, 
2S,  32,  and  33. 

No.  1  was  the  first  well  in  the  entire  territory,  was  drilled  in  1887,  and 
was  a  producer  at  960  feet. 

No.  2  produced  six  barrels  per  day  for  a  time,  at  645  feet. 

No.  5  was  a  dry  hole  at  710  feet. 

No.  6  was  a  dry  hole  at  875  feet. 

No.  7  is  recorded  as  "a  good  well,  soon  exhausted"  at  435  feet. 

No.  10  was  probably  a  producer,  at  660  feet. 

No.  21  was  a  producer,  depth  not  knowTi. 

No.  23  was  880  feet  deep,  but  pulled  back  and  plugged  at  673  feet, 
and  was  still  on  the  pump  in  1898. 

No.  25  was  drilled  in  1891,  was  950  feet  deep,  and  produced  four 
batrels  per  day. 

No.  27  was  good  for  thirty-five  barrels  per  day,  at  710  feet. 

No.  28  was  drilled  to  1630  feet,  but  had  no  oil  below  735  feet,  and 
was  pulled  back  and  plugged  at  800  feet.  The  initial  production  was 
thirteen  barrels  per  day. 

No.  33  was  drilled  in  1898,  and  was  a  producer  at  995  feet. 

Connection  Claim.  One  well,  Tar  Creek  No.  3,  a  dry  hole  at  775 
feet. 

The  above  figures  and  data  are  from  notes  made  at  about  the  time  the 
wells  were  abandoned,  and  undoubtedly  refer  to  the  depths  at  which 
wells  were  finally  operated.  Prom  another  source  considerable  informa- 
tion referring  to  the  time  at  w^hich  these  wells  were  drilled  is  available, 
and  as  the  figures  do  not  in  all  cases  agree,  they  are  tabulated  below 
for  comparison.  Fortunately,  the  locations  given  in  the  older  notes 
check  out  in  every  case  with  those  shown  on  the  map,  which  is  reduced 
from  an  original  lease  map  made  about  1898.  (See  township  4-21  map 
of  Ventura  County.) 


-63 


98 


PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


Depth 

Claim.  1. 

Ccsapi 19G 

Cesapi 206 

Connection 700 

Black  Jack  __  400 

Cesapi 700 

Cesapi 900 

Cesapi 375 

Black  Jack  __  370 

Cesapi 340 

Cesapi 350 

Carpenter 400 

Black  Jack  __  650 

Higgins 600 

Carpenter  ___  1400 

Higffins 

Twilight 850 

Higgins 420 

Irelan 600 

Arcadia 000 

Twilight 665 

Cesapi 710 

Cesapi 390 

Cesapi 645 

Black  Jack  __  850 

Cesapi 825 

Cesapi 745 

Cesapi 

Cesapi  

Black  Jack  __     

Black  Jack  __  ___ 

Cesapi 

Cesapi 


Depth 
2. 

960 
645 
775 
520 
710 
875 
485 
570 

1240 
660 
575 
571 
810 

1690 
975 


880 
880 
950 

710 

1630 


995 


Initial 
output. 

40 
150 
00 
75 
00 
00 
75 


30 
10 
10 
00 
00 
30 
30 
60 
00 
30 
30 
30 
250 
200 
10 
00 
200 


Remarks. 
Very  dark  greenish-brown  oil. 
Fell  to  75  in  3  months,  later  to  6  barrel 
Dry  hole,  into  red  rock. 

Dry  hole,  into  red  rock. 

Dry  hole. 

20  barrels  at  300  feet,  fell  away  fast. 

Down  to  45  barrels  in  six  months. 

Heavier  oil. 

Rapidly  dropped  to  8  barrels. 


Traces  at  500,  dry  below. 
Much  water,  a  little  oil. 
Flowed  800  daily  short  time. 


Dry  hole. 


Pulled  back  and  plugged  at  673  feet. 

33  barrels  daily  steady  production. 

4  barrels  daily  steady  production. 

Crooked  hole,   not  located. 

35  barrels  steady  production. 

Oil  at  735,  plugged  800,  13  barrels  steady. 


A  producer. 
._     Drilling  in  1899,  not  located. 
._     Drilling  in  1899,  not  located. 


Depth  1  is  the  figure  given  by  notes  of  1887  to  1889.  Depth  2  is  figure  given  by 
notes  of  1898  to  1900.     Initial  production  is  in  barrels  daily. 

The  first  recorded  production  from  the  upper  Sespe  region  is  for  the 
early  months  of  1887.  In  June  of  this  year  a  total  output  of  5514 
barrels  is  reported,  this  being  from  Well  No.  1  for  about  120  days,  and 
for  Well  No.  2  for  about  60  days,  a  total  of  180  days,  or  about  31 
barrels  per  day  per  well. 

In  1892  the  group  is  said  to  have  yielded  at  the  rate  of  1500  barrels 
per  month.  This  covers  the  output  of  32  wells,  of  which  25  had 
originally  been  productive,  and  would  be  an  average  of  but  2  barrels 
per  day  if  all  25  were  still  being  pumped,  which  is  doubtful.  In  1895 
it  is  reported  that  but  five  wells  were  on  the  pump,  and  these  making 
some  900  barrels  per  month,  or  an  average  of  6  barrels  per  day  each. 
It  will  be  noted  that  in  1892  the  average  age  of  these  wells  was  but 
four  or  five  years,  and  an  extremely  rapid  decline  from  initial  pro- 
duction is  indicated. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  99 

Maple  Creek  Claim.  Two  wells,  Maple  Creek  Nos.  1  and  2.  No.  1 
was  drilled  in  1898,  and  reported  to  have  started  oft'  at  three  hundred 
barrels,  at  1275  (or  1400)  feet.  It  had  been  abandoned  in  ]May,  1899, 
and  must  have  been  a  pocket  hole.  No.  2  was  a  dry  hole,  depth  not 
kno^^■n. 

Wildcat  Claim.  One  well,  Wildcat  No.  1.  A  producer,  probably 
drilled  in  1897,  and  on  the  pump  up  to  1898,  or  later.  This  claim  is 
now  under  lease  to  the  Cosmopolitan  Oil  Company. 

Hogshack  Claim.  One  well,  Hogsback  No.  1,  drilled  in  1896,  a  dry 
hole  at  1110  feet. 

Hogshead  Claim.  Six  wells,  Hogshead  Nos.  1,  lA,  2,  3,  4,  and  5. 
No.  1  was  drilled  in  1896,  and  was  a  dry  hole  at  1370  feet.  The  five 
succeeding  wells  were  all  on  the  pump  in  1898 ;  no  other  data. 

Kenyan  Claim.  One  well,  Kenyon  No.  1,  originally  a  producer  and 
on  the  pump  in  1899,  but  now  dead. 

Alamo  Claim.     One  well,  Alamo  No.  1,  probably  a  dry  hole. 

Sidehill  Claim.  Two  wells,  Sidehill  Nos.  1  and  2.  No.  1,  drilled  in 
1896,  was  a  dry  hole  at  1745  feet.  No.  2  was  drilled  in  1897,  and  was 
on  the  pump  as  late  as  1898. 

Four  Forks  Claim.  Six  wells,  Four  Forks  Nos.  1  to  6,  inclusive. 
No.  3  was  a  producer,  but  was  abandoned  for  unknown  reasons  in  1899. 
No.  4  was  drilled  in  1895,  to  1100  feet,  and  was  probably  a  failure. 
No.  5  was  a  producer,  and  was  on  the  pump  in  1898.  No.  6  was  drilled 
in  1898,  depth  1450  feet,  and  was  a  producer. 

Iricin  Claim.  One  well,  Irwin  No.  1,  drilled  in  1896,  and  pumping 
in  1898.    This  claim  is  now  under  lease  to  the  Rose  Oil  Company. 

Spring  Valley  Extension  Claim.  Two  wells,  Spring  Valley  Nos.  1 
and  2.     No  data. 

Haicksuing  Claim.  Hawkswing  No.  1.  Drilled  in  1899;  depth  972 
feet ;  still  producing  five  barrels  per  day. 

Junction  Claitn.  Five  wells.  Junction  Nos.  1  to  5,  inclusive.  No.  2 
was  abandoned  in  1899,  and  apparently  had  been  a  producer.  Nothing 
can  be  learned  as  to  the  other  four. 

Central  Claim.  Five  wells.  Central  Nos.  1  to  5,  inclusive.  No.  1  was 
pumping  in  1899,  but  has  since  been  abandoned,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  exhausted.  No.  2  is  650  feet  deep,  and  is  still  making  about  one 
barrel  per  day.  No.  3  is  660  feet  deep,  and  is  now  making  seven  barrels 
per  day.  No.  4  was  drilled  in  1897  to  980  feet  depth,  and  was  once  a 
producer,  but  now  is  abandoned.  No.  5  was  drilled  in  the  same  year, 
was  carried  to  1220  feet,  but  plugged  off  at  1010  feet,  and  is  still  pro- 
ducing two  barrels  per  day. 


100  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTTIEKN    CALIFORNIA. 

Los  Angeles  Claim.  The  first  hole,  Los  Angeles  No.  1,  was  drilled 
by  the  Los  Angeles  Oil  Company,  who  also  drilled  a  hole  on  the  Joseph 
Claim,  in  the  south  half  of  the  section.  The  tract  was  then  leased  to  the 
Union  Oil  Company,  who  drilled  No.  lA,  a  test  hole,  dry  at  1400  feet, 
and  thereafter  seven  wells,  now  known  as  Los  Angeles  Nos.  1  to  7, 
Nos.  1,  2,  and  3  were  originally  producers,  drilled  about  1895,  still  on 
the  pump  in  1897,  but  had  been  abandoned  in  1899.  No.  4  is  still  mak- 
ing four  barrels  per  day.  No.  5  is  1000  feet  deep,  and  is  now  making 
one  and  one  half  barrels  per  day.  No.  6,  drilled  in  1897,  was  a  pro- 
ducer at  1550  feet,  but  has  since  been  abandoned.  No.  7  was  drilled 
in  1898  to  1160  feet,  and  was  a  producer.  It  was  deepened  in  1899,  but, 
if  the  present  reported  depth  (1010  feet)  is  correct,  without  improve- 
ment.   It  is  now  classed  as  a  six-barrel  producer. 

Kentuck  Claim.  Six  wells,  Kentuck  Nos.  1  to  6.  No.  1,  drilled  in 
1890,  depth  950  feet,  oil  at  440  feet,  plugged  at  500  feet.  Was  a 
producer,  was  still  on  the  pump  in  1897,  but  now  dead.  No  2,  drilled  in 
the  same  year,  is  reported  to  be  about  600  feet  deep  and  was  originally 
rated  at  six  barrels  a  day.  Still  producing.  No.  3,  drilled  in  the  same 
year,  is  still  producing— was  originally  rated  at  two  barrels  a  day. 
No.  4  was  abandoned  when  drilled.  No.  5,  drilled  in  1897,  was  a  pro- 
ducer at  600  feet,  but  now  abandoned.  No.  6,  drilled  in  1898,  was 
carried  to  1225  feet,  but  pulled  back  to  650  feet,  and  is  still  on  the 
pumping  list.  This  lease  and  the  wells  thereon  passed  to  Clampitt 
Brothers  in  the  current  year. 

Star  Oil  Claim.  Six  wells,  Star  Nos.  1  to  6.  Nos.  1  to  4  are  aban- 
doned. No  data.  No.  5  was  drilled  in  1897  to  950  feet,  and  No.  6  in 
1898  to  990  feet.  These  two  wells  are  said  to  be  good  for  an  average 
of  ten  barrels  per  day  each  at  the  present  time. 

So  far  as  is  known,  this  completes  the  list  of  the  Union  Oil  Com- 
pany's operations  in  Tar  Creek  and  Little  Sespe.  The  totals  are  as 
follows : 

15  wells  abandoned  when  drilled. 
2  wells  pumped  out  in  less  than  a  year. 

35  wells  known  to  have  once  produced,  but  now  exhausted  or  lost. 

20  wells  abandoned  for  reasons  not  known. 
2  wells  cleaning  and  drilling  at  this  time  (October,  1910). 

12  wells  pumping  an  average  of  about  five  barrels  per  day  each. 

86  total  number  of  wells  recorded. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WliLLS.  Il'l 

Wells  North  of  Tar  Creek. 

Within  the  past  two  years  considerable  development  has  taken  place 
in  the  extreme  north  of  the  Sespe  country,  and  is  now  actively  in 
progress.  Production  has  been  had  nearly  two  and  one  half  miles  north 
of  old  Tar  Creek  No.  20,  and  drilling  is  under  way  considerably  to  the 
north  and  west  of  this.  It  appears  likely  at  present  that  valuable  neAv 
territory  will  be  opened  up  far  back  in  the  mountains. 

Concord  Petroleum  Company.  This  company  is  drilling  near  the 
west  line  of  section  6,  5-19,  and  about  midway  of  the  section  line.  In 
February,  1912,  this  well  M^as  reported  to  be  some  500  feet  deep. 

Big  Chief  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  producing  well  on  the 
Daisy  claim,  near  the  southwest  corner  of  section  5,  5-19.  This  well 
entered  oil  sand  at  2285  feet,  but  is  reported  to  have  been  finished  at 
2387  feet.  It  is  said  to  be  pumping  an  average  of  93  barrels  per  day 
of  an  oil  approximating  17^°  Beaume. 

Squaw  Flat  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  operating  on  the  Nogales 
claim,  north  half  of  the  north  half,  section  8.  In  February,  1912,  this 
well  was  drilling  at  300  feet. 

New  Moody  Gulch  Oil  Company.  Is  operating  on  the  Santa  Fe 
claim,  in  the  northeast  c[uarter  of  section  8.  This  well  is  reported  to 
be  200  feet,  drilling.  This  company  have  also  a  well  in  Moody  Gulch, 
Santa  Clara  County. 

Whitelaw  Oil  Company.  Is  drilling  on  the  Shenandoah  claim,  in 
the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  17.  This  well  is  said  to  have  reached 
a  depth  of  about  2600  feet,  and  to  have  found  a  light  oil  sand  below  a 
stratum  of  heavy  oil  similar  to  that  encountered  in  the  Big  Chief  well. 

Stockholders  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  1200  foot  hole  on 
the  Sampson  claim,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  17.  In  the  early 
part  of  1912  this  well  was  suspended  at  about  700  feet. 

Unio7i  Oil  Company — ''Sunset."  This  company  is  said  to  be  drilling 
on  the  Sunset  claim,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  21.  but  progress 
is  not  reported. 

Wells  East  and  South  of  Tar  Creek  Wells. 

Considerable  activity  has  also  been  shown  in  the  way  of  eastward 
extensions  of  the  old  Tar  Creek  and  Little  Sespe  groups,  and  some  Avork 
has  also  been  done  on  old  leases. 

Anaconda  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  in  the  north- 
cast  quarter  of  section  28,  and  just  east  of  the  old  Black  Jack  wells. 
It  is  suspended  at  about  2000  feet,  with  tools  in  the  hole,  and  probably 
will  have  to  be  abandoned. 

Stockholders  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  1200  foot  hole  on 
the  Intervenor  claim,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  same  section.  No 
work  has  been  done  on  this  well  for  a  number  of  months. 


102  PiiTROEEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Big  Sespe  Oil  Company — Clampitt  Bros.  On  the  old  Razzle-Dazzle 
claim,  later  known  as  the  Oil  Spouter,  in  section  1,  4-20.  Four  wells  on 
a  steep  hillside  just  north  of  the  bend  in  Sespe  Caiion,  in  which  the 
Kentuck  wells  are  located.  These  wells  were  drilled  by  the  California 
Oil  Company,  and  later  operated  by  the  Big  Sespe  Oil  Company  of 
California.  The  property  has  lately  (December,  1910)  passed  to  Clam- 
pitt Bros,  of  Los  Angeles. 

There  are  at  present  four  wells,  though  there  appears  to  be  a  fifth, 
which  can  not  now  be  located.    The  four  producing  wells  are  as  follows : 

No.  1 — 1020  feet  deep,  producing. 

No.  2 —  800  feet  deep,  producing. 

No.  3 —  930  feet  deep,  producing. 

No.  4 — 1280  feet  deep,  producing. 

Cosmopolitan  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  credited  with  three 
wells.  No.  1,  on  the  Wildcat  claim,  is  a  producer  of  33°  oil  at  1800  feet. 
No.  2  is  on  the  Udall  claim,  and  produces  a  similar  oil  at  1010  feet. 
No.  3,  also  on  the  Udall,  was  drilling,  and  No.  4  rigged,  in  December, 
1910. 

White  Star  Oil  Company — Oil  Creek  Consolidated  Oil  Company — 
Elk  Consolidated  Oil  Company.  The  first  named  company,  a  consoli- 
dation of  the  other  two,  has  seven  wells  on  the  Westside  and  Delta 
claims,  in  section  33,  5-19. 

No.  1,  Delta,  is  a  920-foot  producer,  drilled  in  1907. 

No.  2,  Delta,  is  a  producer  at  2323  feet,  drilled  in  1908. 

No.  3,  Delta,  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  and  produces  from  1180 
feet. 

No.  4,  Delta,  is  an  1832-foot  producer,  drilled  in  1909. 

No.  5,  Westside,  was  drilled  in  1910,  and  is  a  producer  at  1827  feet. 

No.  6,  Westside,  was  a  producer  at  1185  feet  in  December,  1910,  but 
was  then  in  the  top  sand  only  and  was  to  be  deepened. 

No.  7,  Westside,  was  drilling  at  1100  feet  at  the  same  time. 

Eose  Oil  Company.  The  wells  of  this  company  are  on  the  Irwin 
cslaim,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  32.  The  abandoned  well  on 
this  claim  was  drilled  by  the  Union  Oil  Company,  as  noted  above. 
Well  No.  1  of  the  Rose  Oil  Company  was  drilled  to  a  depth,  it  is  said, 
of  2800  feet,  but  was  not  finished  because  of  mechanical  difficulties. 
Well  No.  2  was  drilling  at  2600  feet  in  February,  1912. 

Mutual  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  on  the  Alhambra 
claim,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  33.  It  is  reported  to  have  been 
finished  at  3300  feet,  in  January,  1912.  Considerable  oil  was  found  at 
about  the  2000  foot  level,  but  the  productiveness  of  the  well  as  finished 
is  not  known. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  103 

Oil  Creek  Oil  Company.  Is  reported  to  have  spudded  in  a  hole  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  35,  in  March,  1912. 

Dixie  National  Oil  Company — Ventura-California  Oil  Company.  On 
the  Neptune  chiim,  5,  4-19.  No.  1  was  finished  in  1910,  and  was  reported 
to  be  doing  24  barrels  per  day  from  2100  feet.  No.  2  was  finished  in 
1911,  and  is  said  to  be  a  producer  at  about  1800  feet.  The  property 
passed  to  the  Ventura-California  Oil  Company  in  this  year. 

Los  Angeles  Oil  Company.  On  the  Los  Angeles  claim,  now  under 
lease  to  the  Union  Oil  Company  of  California.  No.  1,  drilled  in  1890, 
depth  1500  feet,  a  dry  hole.  No.  2  was  on  the  Joseph  claim,  now  oper- 
ated by  the  Brownstone  Oil  and  Refining  Company,  drilled  in  1890,  a 
dry  hole  at  1100  feet. 

Broivnstone  Oil  and  Refining  Company.  Five  wells  on  the  Joseph 
claim,  section  6,  4r-19.  No.  1,  drilled  in  1904,  800  feet,  producing. 
No.  2,  drilled  in  the  same  year,  460  feet,  producing.  No.  3,  drilled  in 
1905,  about  1000  feet,  producing.  No.  4,  same  year,  1390  feet,  produc- 
ing. These  wells  were  drilled  and  for  a  time  operated  by  the  Happy 
Thought  Oil  Company,  and  are  reported  to  be  now  averaging  about 
fifteen  barrels  per  day  each.  No.  5  was  1395  feet  drilling  in  December, 
1910. 

Einslie  Oil  Company.  In  1911  the  above  property  passed  to  the 
Emslie  Oil  Company.    Well  No.  5  has  been  finished. 

Croivn  Oil  Company.  On  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  7,  4-19.  One  well,  1200  feet,  su-spended,  said  to  be 
good  for  ten  barrels  per  day  at  this  depth. 

Monarch  Oil  Company.  On  the  southwest  quarter  of  northwest 
quarter  of  section  7,  4-19.  A  400-foot  abandoned  well,  drilled  about 
1901 ;  no  results. 

Golden  Gate  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  two  wells  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  southwest  quarter  of  the  same  section,  at  about  the 
same  time.  No.  1  was  abandoned  at  1500  feet,  and  is  reported  to  have 
been  a  dry  hole.    No.  2  is  said  to  have  been  drilled  for  300  feet  only. 

Montana  Oil  Company.  At  about  the  same  time  this  company  drilled 
a  hole,  said  to  be  1000  feet  deep,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  southwest 
quarter  of  the  same  section.  It  was  reported  at  the  time  that  some  oil 
had  been  found,  but  how  much  can  not  now  be  learned. 

Skookum  Oil  Company,  or  Wehfoot  Oil  Syndicate.  One  of  these  cor- 
porations drilled  in  1902,  west  of  Pole  Caiion,  near  the  north  line  of 
section  8,  "4-19.     Depth  1000  feet,  no  oil,  but  much  water. 

Golden  West  Crude  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  the  well 
near  the  mouth  of  Pole  Canon,  on  the  hill  north  of  the  creek.  The  well 
entered  a  tarry  formation  at  200  feet,  and  penetrated  it  to  a  depth  of 


104  •  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    {^A  I.TFOliNTA. 

440  feet,  when  it  was  abandoned.  Tliis  well  was  drilled  on  a  small 
cropping  of  asphaltic  oil  sand. 

Blade  Pearl  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  imme- 
diately south  of  the  creek,  near  the  month  of  Pole  Caiion.  It  Avas 
drilled  in  1910,  to  a  depth  of  1000  feet,  and  found  small  quantities  of 
oil,  but  not  a  profitable  amount.    This  well  is  still  rigged. 

Union  Consolidated  Oil  Company.  Is  said  to  have  drilled  the  hole  in 
the  north  half,  north  half  of  section  29.  No  record  of  this  well  can  be 
found. 

Whittier-Fillmore  Oil  Company.  Two  abandoned  wells  in  the  same 
section,  close  to  the  grant  line  and  just  north  of  the  county  road.  There 
is  a  cropping  of  oil  sand  in  the  bank  at  this  point,  and  the  two  wells, 
which  were  500  and  700  feet,  respectively,  found  a  small  amount  of  oil, 
but  no  pay.  This  company  afterward  operated  successfully  in  the 
Whittier  field. 

QUALITIES  OF  SESPE  OILS. 

The  Sespe  territory  produces  many  grades  of  crude,  which  may  be 
gathered  into  three  classes :  a  very  heavy  black  oil,  giving  no  light 
products,  and  useful  only  as  fuel;  a  medium  black  oil,  ranging  from 
19°  to  23°,  giving  low  to  fair  yields  of  light  products;  and  a  very  light 
black  oil,  giving  a  high  yield  of  naphthas. 

The  heaviest  oil  is  found  in  Big  Sespe  only.  The  medium  grade  Avas 
produced  by  some  of  the  Tar  Creek  wells  (which  ones  cannot  now  be 
learned),  and  is  the  present  output  of  the  wells  in  the  forks  of  Big  and 
Little  Sespe  canons — the  Kentuck  and  Clampitt  wells.  It  was  also 
found  in  some  of  the  Four  Forks  wells,  and  probably  in  many  other 
wells  close  to  the  outcrop  of  the  sand.  The  lightest  grade  is  found 
farther  back  on  the  formation,  and  while  the  number  of  samples  does 
not  justify  much  generalization,  it  is  probable  that  the.  gravity  increases, 
within  limits,  as  drilling  is  carried  down  the  dip. 

These  lightest  oils  are  among  the  highest  grade  refining  oils  of  the 
State,  giving  very  large  yields  of  naphthas  and  illuminants,  and  these  of 
good  quality.  The  heavy  end  of  the  crude  oil  is,  as  a  rule,  practically 
valueless  except  for  fuel,  because  of  the  high  cold  test  of  the  lubricants 
made  from  it.  As  with  the  Bardsdale  oils,  these  crudes  contain  much 
amorphous  paraffin,  which  cannot  be  filtered  out,  as  it  will  not 
crystallize. 

The  following  analyses  probably  cover  completely  the  range  of  values 
of  the  oils  of  this  district : 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CAXON  WELLS.  105 

5469.* 
Big  Sespe  Oil   Company  of  Arizona.     Wells   No.   1   and   No.  4. 

Gravity approximately  13°  Beaumfe 

This  is  a  very  viscous  black  oil,  and  frothed  so  badly  that  it  was  finally  dried  by 
evaporation  at  the  lowest  possible  temperature  in  an  open  pan.     With  any  ordinary 
oil   of   this   viscosity   and  gravity,   there   is   no   danger   of   the   loss   of   any   volatile 
elements  in  this  process.     The  dried  oil  was  then  distilled. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  108  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in  a  current  of  gas,  distillation 
being  carried  to  dry  coke.  The  first  ten  per  cent  of  the  distillate  showed 
a  gravity  of  27°  Beaume,  so  that  there  may  have  been  a  small  amount  of 
stove  oil  which  escaped  measurement. 

Distillate    83.3  per  cent  21.7°  Beaume 

Fixed  carbon 16.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

Loss    0.7  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  and 

the  distillate  reduced  in  a  current  of  gas.  giving  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis: 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  None 

Stove   oil   33.0°  None  or  trace 

Fuel  distillate 31.0°  22.2  per  cent    )   Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 13.6°  37.1  per  cent   {  21.7°— 59.3  % 

Asphalt    '"D"  40.p  per  cent  or  140.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  reduced  stock  is  of  a  light  color,  with  a  good  green  outertone,  and 
a  high  viscosity,  but  shows  no  paraffin.  On  treatment  it  gives  a  light- 
colored  red  oil  of  16.1°  Beaume,  having  a  rich  green  outer  tone,  and  a 
viscosity  normal  to  red  oils  of  this  gravity. 

This  crude  in  every  respect  resembles  the  hea\y  oils  of  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley,  and  has  none  of  the  characteristics  which  distinguish 
Ventura  from  other  crudes. 

7464.t 
Union  Oil   Company.     Tar  Creek.     "A"  Well. 

Gravity 38.0°  Beaum6    (0.833  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  of  oil  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1886,  and  nothing  is 
recorded  as  to  the  appearance  cf  the  oil,  nor,  unfortunately,  as  to  the  number  or 
location  of  the  well  from  which  it  was  taken. 

The  gravity  given  for  the  crude  does  not  agree  at  all  with  the  analysis,  and  is 
decidedly  under  suspicion  of  being  a  misprint. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  \%as  distilled  from  a  copper  retort,  the  thermometer  bulb 
being   set   in   the   neck   of   the   retort    (probably).     No  steam  or  gas   was 


♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 

tAnalysis  by  Dr.  W.  D.  Johnston. 


106  PETROLEUM    IN   SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

used  to  assist  distillation,  which  was  carried  up  to  300°  C,  and  nothing 

is  recorded  as  to  the  properties  of  the  residue. 

Below  100°   C 10.0  per  cent  (54.4°  Beaum6 

100  to  125° 0.8  per  cent  55.4° 

125  to  150° 5.5  per  cent  50.1° 

150  to  200° 9.7  per  cent  43.0° 

200  to  250° 11.0  per  cent  33.5° 

250  to  300° 7.1  percent  27.4° 

"Residue 40.!)  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 
This  is  approximately  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  IG  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  13  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  9  per  cent 

Middlings  (top  only) 28°  7  per  cent 

Residue 50  per  cent 

100  per  cent 

7465.* 
Union  Oil  Company.     Tar  Creek.     Well  No.  2. 

Gravity 33.0°  Beaumg  (0.859  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  of  oil  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  ISSG,  and  nothing  is 
recorded  as  to  the  appearance  of  the  oil. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  was  distilled  from  a  copper  retort,  without  the  use  of 
either  steam  or  gas.  Distillation  was  carried  up  to  a  temperature  of 
300°  C,  but  nothing  is  recorded  as  to  the  properties  of  the  residue. 

Below  100°  C 9.1  per  cent  70.0°  Beaumg 

100  to  125° 9.2  per  cent  G0.7° 

125  to  150° 8.8  per  cent  58.7° 

150  to  200° 11.8  per  cent  45.4° 

200  to  250° 9.0  per  cent  40.3° 

250  to  300° 8.0  per  cent  29.8° 

Residue 44.1  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  approximately  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    Gl°  Beaum6  28  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  23  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  None 

Middlings  (top  only) 28°  5  per  cent 

Residue 44  per  cent 

100  per  cent 
This  sample  shows  a  phenomenon  noted  also  in  5479  and  7418,  both 
gasoline  and  stove  oil  being  completely  cut  out  by  the  over-running  of 
adjacent  fractions.    Both  these  products  could  be  made  by  altering  the 
cuts  on  the  crude. 

•Analysis  by  Dr.  W.  D.  Johnston. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  107 

7484.* 
Union   Oil   Company.     Tar  Creek.     "A"  Well. 

Gravity 23.4'  Beaumg   (0.9125  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  of  oil  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1S95,  and  nothinj  is 
recorded  as  to  the  appearance  of  the  oil,  nor  as  to  the  number  or  location  of  the  well 
from  which  it  was  taken. 
Distillation. 

This  sample  was  distilled  dry,  from  a  glass  flask  or  retort,  but  no  details  as 
to  methods  are  given. 

Below  150°  C 7.6  per  cent  60.4°  Beaumg 

150  to  200° 11.0  per  cent  54.3° 

200  to  250° 10.4  per  cent  40.7° 

250  to  300° 12.4  per  cent  34.4° 

300  to  350° 0.0  per  cent  28.5° 

Residue 52.6  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  approximately  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  7.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  15.5  per  cent 

Keirosene 42°  2.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  22.0  per  cent 

Residue 53.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

In  this  case  the  very  low  yield  of  stove  oil  is  caused  by  the  narrow  cut 
on  gasoline,  which  starts  the  engine  distillate  unusually  high,  and  makes 
it  cut  into  the  kerosene  stock  at  the  upper  end.  It  is  necessary  to  state 
the  results  in  this  way  for  the  sake  of  uniformity,  but  in  actual  running 
other  cuts  would  probably  be  made. 


7485.* 
Union  Oil   Company.     Tar  Creek.     "A"  Well. 

Gravity 23.3°  Beaume  (0.9192  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  of  oil  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1895,  and  nothing  is 
recorded  as  to  the  appearance  of  the  oil,  nor  as  to  the  number  or  location  of  the 
well  from  which  it  was  taken. 
Distillation. 

This  sample  was  distilled  dry,  from  a  glass  flask  or  retort,  but  no  details  as 
to  methods  are  given. 

Below  l.")0°  C 8.4  per  cent  63.3°  Beaum6 

150  to  200° 8.0  per  cent  58.4° 

200  to  2.")0° 10.4  per  cent  45.3° 

250  to  300° 14.2  per  cent  32.7° 

300  to  350° 4.0  per  cent  Not  recorded 

Residue    55.0  per  cent         Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

•Analysis  by  W.  L.  Watts. 


108  PKTKOLEUM    IN    SOUTnEltN    CALIFORNIA. 

This  is  closely  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline Gl°  Beaum6  16.4  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  15.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  5.0  per  cent 

Middlings    (top  only) 8.1  per  cent 

Residue    55.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  oil  cuts  verj^  peculiarly,  and  the  sudden  drop  between  the  second 
and  third  fractions  is  open  to  suspicion,  particularly  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  the  results,  as  originally  stated,  did  not  include  any  residue,  and 
there  is  therefore  a  possibility  of  an  intermediate  fraction  having  been 
dropped.  As  no  samples  of  these  oils  are  now  obtainable,  the  work  can 
not  be  checked,  but  at  least  the  first  two  cuts  are  correct. 

7487.* 
Union  Oil  Company.     Kentuck  Lease.     "A"  Well. 

Gravity 25.3°  Beaume   (0.9015  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  of  oil  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1895.     The  number  of 
the  well  from  which  the  sample  was  taken  is  not  given. 
Distillation. 

This  sample  was  distilled  dry,  from  a  glass  flask  or  retort,  but  no  details  as 
to  methods  are  stated. 

Below  150°  C G.O  per  cent  64.4°  Beaume 

150  to  200° 8.6  per  cent  54.2° 

200  to  250° 10.0  per  cent  44.0° 

250  to  300° 12.2  per  cent  35.7° 

300  to  350° 2.5  per  cent  31.6° 

Kes'due 60.7  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  closely  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  10.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  4.6  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  16.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  8.7  per  cent 

Residue 60.7  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  sample  should  be  compared  with  No.  4490. 

4490.t 
Union  Oil   Company.     Kentuck  Claim.     Wells  No.  2  and   No.  3. 

Gravity 22.1°  Beaume 

This  is  an  oil  of  a  blackish-brown  color,  somewhat  more  limpid  than  the  Razzle- 
Dazzle  oil,  but  of  the  same  sweet  and  aromatic  odor. 


♦Analysis  by  W.  L.  Watts. 
fAnalysis  by  J.   P.   P. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  109 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  140  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.5  per  cent  60.8°  Beaum6 

Second  cut -     6.2  per  cent  52.1° 

Third  cut 11.6  per  cent  42.0° 

Fourth  cut 22.1  per  cent  33.5° 

Fifth  cut 48.7  per  cent  24.5° 

Fixed  carbon 5.9  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  lubricating  stock  from  this  oil  was  not  rerun.  On  calculation  of 
carbon  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown: 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  6.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  6.0  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  11.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  23.0  per  cent 

Lubricating  stock 24.5°  38.7  per  cent 

Asphalt    "D"  14.8  per  cent  or  51.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  are  high  in  quantity  for  an  oil  of 
this  gravity,  and  refine  readily  to  white  and  sweet  oils.  The  heavy  end 
of  the  oil  appears  to  be  very  similar  to  that  from  other  oils  of  this 
neighborhood,  and  of  little  value. 

7488.* 
California  Oil   Company  (now  Clampitt   Bros.).     Razzle-Dazzle  Wells. 

Gravity 18.9°  Beaume   (0.9402  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1895.     The  number  of  the 
well  from  which  the  sample  was  taken  is  not  stated,  but  it  is  probable  that  the  oil 
was  the  average  from  the  four  wells  then  in  operation. 
Distillation. 

This  sample  was  distilled  dry,  from  glass  flask  or  retort,  but  no  details  as  to 
methods  are  given. 

Below   1.50°   C Traces 

150  to  200° 7.3  per  cent  53.3°  Beaumg 

200  to  250° 9.5  per  cent  44.7° 

250  to  300° 11.3  per  cent  34.7° 

300  to  350° 2.9  per  cent  32.7° 

Residue 69.0  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  closely  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

■Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  10.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  7.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  13.5  per  cent 

Residue    69.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  W.  L.  Watts. 


110  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

4487.» 

Clampitt   Brothers.     Razzle- Dazzle  Wells.     Average. 

Gravity  19.3°    Beaum^. 

This   is   a   brownish-black  oil  of  a  moderate  viscosity,   considerably   higher  than 
that  of  the  oils  farther  east  and  north.     The  odor  is  sweet,  but  decidedly  aromatic. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  140  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.5  per  cent  51.9°  Beaum6 

Second   cut    12.8  per  cent  41.4° 

Third  cut 10.2  per  cent  32.7° 

Fourth   cut    64.5  per  cent  23.1° 

Fixed  carbon 7.0   grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  and 

the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas.  This  gives  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis: 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaum6  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  5.5  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  12.0  per  cent 

Stove   oil   33.0°  11.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.4°  29.7  per  cent  )  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.1°  24.3  per  cent  S  23.1°— 54.0% 

Asphalt    "D"  17.5  per  cent  or  61.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil,  while  small  in  quantity,  are  at  least 
up  to  the  average  for  an  oil  of  this  gravity,  and  are  very  mild  and  sweet, 
and  of  good  colors,  after  treatment. 

The  lubricating  stock  reduced  to  a  stock  of  good  green  color,  which 
was  somewhat  mushy  with  paraffin,  though  much  less  so  than  the  stock 
from  the  lighter  oils.  This  reduced  stock  treated  out  to  an  engine  oil  of 
Lght-red  color  and  fine  green  outer  tone,  having  the  gravity  17.7°,  and 
a  viscosity  normal  to  the  gravity,  but  solidifying  at  65°  Beaume.  It  is 
probably  possible  to  handle  this  oil  in  the  crude  still  as  to  somewhat 
lower  the  cold  test  of  the  engine  oil,  though  this  would  be  high  at  the 
best. 

4465.* 

Union  Oil  Company,     Central  Claim.     Well  No.  3. 

Gravity 29.1°  Beaumg 

This  is   a   fairly   limpid,   brownish-black   oil,   with   a   penetrating  and   somewhat 
aromatic,  but   not  sulfurous  odor.     In  spite  of  its  low  viscosity  it  shows  a  slight 
tendency  to  emulsify  with  water. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  cc,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

•Anaylsis  by  J.  P.  P. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  Ill 

First  cut   8.9  per  cent  61.9°  Beaum6 

Second    cut    8.8  per  cent  51.4° 

Third    cut    IG.l  per  cent  42.3° 

Fourth    cut   31.5  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 29.4  per  cent  25.3° 

Fixed  carbon 5.3   grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  lubricating  stock  from  this  distillation  was  too  small  in  quantity 
to  be  rerun.  After  calculation  of  the  asphalt,  the  following  commercial 
analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  10.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  6.0  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  19.5  per  cent 

Sto\e  oil 33.0°  30.0  per  cent 

Lubricating  stock 25.3°  21.2  per  cent 

Asphalt    "D"  13.3  per  cent  or  46.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  abnormal  yield  of  stove  oil  from  thi-j  crude  is  caused  by  decom- 
position, which  has  also  affected  the  lubricating  stock  to  some  extent, 
and  would  be  lessened  in  steam  distillation.  Nevertheless,  the  stock 
appears  to  contain  too  much  amorphous  paraffin  to  be  of  much  value 
for  lubricants,  and  the  value  of  the  crude  lies  at  the  light  end.  The 
light  products  take  the  acid  only  fairly  well,  contrary  to  the  rule  with 
oils  from  this  territory. 

4477.* 
Union  Oil  Company.     Star  Claim.     Wells  No.  4  and  No.  5. 

Gravity 27.5°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  sweet  and  rather  pene- 
trating odor.     There  is  no  tendency  to  emulsification  with  water. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  cc,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut   6.3  per  cent  62.9°  Beaumg 

Second   cut    7.0  per  cent  51.7° 

Third    cut    17.1  per  cent  42.1° 

Fourth    cut   12.6  per  cent  33.0" 

Fifth  cut 52  4  per  cent  28.4° 

Fixed    carbon 4.6   grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Anaylsis  by  J.  P.  P. 


112  PETROLEUM    IN    S0UTHP:RN    CALIFORNIA. 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  followino-  commercial  analysis: 

<jasoline 61.0°  Beaiime  8.5  per  cent 

Engine   distillate    52.0°  2.5  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0^  17.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil  33.0°  14.5  per  cent 

Fuel    distillate    31.0°  18.9  per  cent  )  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 18.7°  2G.G  per  cent  \  28.4° — 45.5% 

Asphalt    "D"  11.5  per  cent  or  40.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  refined  only  fairly  well,  giving 
^ood  sweet  odors,  but  only  fair  colors.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  yield 
of  stove  oil  is  normal,  and  does  not  indicate  decomposition  of  the  heavy 
end,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Central  sample.  Still,  the  gravity  of  the  lubri- 
cating stock  is  very  high,  and  while  the  reduced  stock  treats  out  to  a  red 
oil  of  very  fair  color,  this  solidifies  at  70°  F.,  which  would  indicate  that 
the  heavy  end  of  the  crude  is  of  little  value. 


4479.* 
Union  Oil   Company.      Hawkswing   Claim.     Well   No.   1. 

Oravity 29.4°  Beaume 

This  is  a  brownish-black  oil,  slightly  less  limpid  than  the  preceding  samples,  with 
a.  sweet  and  rather  flat  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 9.0  per  cent  61.8°  Beaumg 

Second    cut    8.0  per  cent  51.9° 

Third    cut    14.0  per  cent  41.8° 

Fourth   cut 22.0  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 40.6  per  cent  27.4° 

Fixed  carbon 5.6  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  and 

the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas.  This  gives  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  10.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  6.0  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  16.0  per  cent 

Stove   oil    33.0°  20.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.8°  19.8  per  cent   ;  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock Solid  13.2  per  cent   \  27.4°— 33.0% 

Asphalt    "D"  14.0  per  cent  or  49.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Anaylsis  by  J.  P.  P. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  113 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  refined  readily,  the  test  acid  giving 
water-white  and  sweet  products.  The  stove  oil,  which  is  rather  large  in 
<]aantity,  was  rank,  and  evidently  burned.  The  lubricating  stock  was 
very  black,  after  reduction,  and  did  not  take  the  acid  well,  giving  a  dark- 
green  treated  product,  which  was  entirely  solid  up  to  nearly  100°  F. 


4491.* 
Union  Oil  Company.     Los  Angeles  Lease.     V\/ells  Nos.  4,  5  and  7. 

Gravity 30.3°  Beaumg 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  brownish-black  color,  and  a  sweet,  aromatic  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  140  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut  9.9  per  cent  63.2°  Beaum6 

Second    cut    8.0  per  cent  52.4° 

Third  cut 15.0  per  cent  42.0° 

Fourth  cut 21.2  per  cent  33.3° 

Fifth  cut 39.7  per  cent  28.1° 

Fixed  carbon 6.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  and 
the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  current  of  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  13.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  3.0  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  19.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil  33.0°  19.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 31.7°  19.2  per  cent 

Reduced  stock Pasty  11.3  per  cent 

Asphalt    "D"  15.5  per  cent  or  54.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  treated  out  in  a  satisfactory 
manner,  giving  sweet  oils  of  at  least  fair  color.  The  lubricating  stock 
contains  too  much  paraffin  to  be  of  much  value,  and  breaks  down  a  good 
deal  in  distillation. 

7418.t 
Union  Oil  Company.     Los  Angeles  Lease.     Well  No.  7. 

•Gravity 30.9°  Beaum6 

Viscosity  at  60°  F 2.79  Redwood  (water— 1) 

Viscosity  at  180°  F 1.66  Redwood  (water— 1) 

Flash  point Below  60°  F.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

♦Anaylsis  by  J.  P.  P. 

tAnalysis  by  H.  N.   Cooper. 

9—63 


114 


TETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  still,  dry,  no  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°   F 9.3  per  cent  08.4°  Beaum6 

212    to   302° 10.2  per  cent  53.7° 

302    to   392° 9.S  per  cent  4.5.2° 

392  to  482° S.S  per  cent  39.1° 

482    to   572° 11.4  per  cent  33.4° 

572°   to  grade 34.9  per  cent  29.7° 

Asphalt    13.2  per  cent  Grade  "D"   (about) 

Loss    2.4  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  roughly  equal  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  19  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  19  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  12  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants 28°  35  per  cent  (not  sepai-ated  i 

Asphalt —  13  per  cent 

Lo.ss 22  per  cent 

100  per  cent 
Nothing  is  recorded  as  to  the  quality  of  the  products  from  this  oil. 
The  gasoline  runs  much  higher  than  in  No.  4491,  but  otherwise  the  two 
analyses  correspond  closely. 

5478.* 
Brownstone  Oil  and   Refining  Company.     Wells  Nos.   1,  2,  3  and  4. 

Gravity 25.5°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  of  a  highly  sulfurous  odor.     It  shows  con- 
siderable tendency  to  emulsify  with  water. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  119  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  In  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 8.0  per  cent  58.6°  Beaume 

Second  cut 6.3  per  cent  51.9° 

Third  cut 12.5  per  cent  42.0° 

Fourth  cut 11.1  per  cent  33.8° 

Fifth  cut 55.8  per  cent  25.6° 

Fixed  carbon 6.3  grams  per  100  c.c. 


100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  but  the 
lubricating  stock  was  not  reduced.  The  following  commercial  analysis 
is  shown : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  5.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  12.0  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  8.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  15.0  per  cent 

Lubricating  stock ^  25.6°  44.2  per  cent 

Asphalt "D"  15.8  per.  cent  or  55.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

■ 100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  115 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  take  treatment  readily,  and  give 
white  and  very  sweet  oils.  The  lubricating  i-.tock  is  of  high  gravity  and 
low  viscosity,  and  is  probably  of  little  value. 

7486.* 
Union  Oil  Company.     Four  Forks  Claim.     "A"  Well. 

Gravity 22.2°  Beaume   (0.919G  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  of  oil  was  collected  and  analj'zed  in  the  year  1895.     The  number  of 
the  well  from  which  the  sample  was  taken  is  not  given. 
Distillation. 

This  sample  was  distilled  dry,  from  a  glass  flask  or  retort,  but  no  details  as 
to  methods  are  given. 

Below  150°   C Traces 

150  to  200° 1G.9  per  cent  52.2°  Beaume 

200  to  250° 16.S  per  cent  44.9° 

250  to  300° 9.7  per  cent  37.3° 

300  to  350° 6.6  per  cent  32.7° 

Residue    60.0  per  cent         Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  closely  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  7.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  26.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  6.0  per  cent 

Re.sidue 60.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

5479.t 
Cosmopolitan  Oil   Company.     Udall   Lease.     Well   No.  2. 

Gravity 34.5°   Beaumfi 

This  is  a  very  limpid,  brownish-colored  oil,  with  a  mild  and  ethereal  odor.     It  is 
the  lightest  crude,  so  far  as  is  known,  produced  in  the  Sespe  country. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  SO  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  lirst  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 29.7  per  cent  61.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 20.7  per  cent  41.7° 

Third  cut 16.5  per  cent  29.6° 

Fourth  cut 30.3  per  cent  17.7° 

Fixed  carbon 2.S  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  volume  of  lubricating  stock  from  this  run  was  too  small  for  redis- 

♦Analysis  by  V^.  L.  Watts. 
tAnalysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


116  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

tillatiou.     The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt,  giving  the  follow- 
ing commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline G1.0°  Beaum6  30.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  20.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  10.0  per  cent  (approximately) 

Lubricating  stock 17.7°  33.0  per  cent 

Asphalt "D"  7.0  per  cent  or  24.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  first  two  cuts  from  this  crude  were  pale  and  sweet,  and  took  treat- 
ment very  readily.  The  third  cut  had  a  most  unusual  ethereal  and  acetic 
odor,  which  was  practically  unchanged  by  Ireatmen;-.  The  lubricating 
stock  was  of  good  color,  and  as  will  be  noted,  had  an  unusually  low 
gravity  for  an  oil  run  in  this  manner,  and  a  correspondingly  high  vis- 
cosity.   No  paraffin  was  noted  in  this  stock. 

The  absence  of  52°  distillate  from  this  crude  is  due  simply  to  the  fact 
that  the  gasoline  started  at  so  high  a  gravity,  that  all  the  52°  had  to 
be  fed  into  this  cut  to  bring  the  average  down  to  61°.  By  cutting  off 
the  top  of  the  gasoline,  a  normal  yield  of  52°  could  be  had. 

5485.* 
White  Star  Oil  Company.     Weils  Nos.  4  and  5. 

Gravity 33.7°  Beaum6 

This   is   a   moderately   limpid,   brownish-black  oil,   with   a   mild  odor.     At  about 
60°  F.  it  sets  to  a  jelly-like  consistency,  by  the  separation  of  amorphous  paraflBn. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 19.8  per  cent  61.0°  Beaum6 

Second  cut 10.2  per  cent  52.0° 

Third  cut 15.6  per  cent  38.0° 

Fourth  cut 19.8  per  cent  32.8° 

Fifth  cut 28.8  per  cent  Solid 

Fixed  carbon 5.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  lubricating  stock  was  not  redistilled.  Carbon  calculated  to 
asphalt  as  usual,  giving  the  following  commt-rcial  analysis  for  the  crude : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaum4  20.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  10.0  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  11.0  per  cent  (approximately) 

Stove  oil 33°  25.0  per  cent 

Lubricating  stock Solid  19.5  per  cent 

Asphalt "D"  14.5  per  cent  or  50.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  percent 

♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  117 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  treat  out  to  good  colors  and  odors, 
and  are  of  entirely  satisfactory  quality.  The  lubricating  stock,  if  it 
may  be  so  called,  was  a  stiff  paste,  but  even  more  of  a  jelly  than  is  usual 
with  these  oils  carrying  amorphous  paraffin  It  is,  of  course,  entirely 
valueless  for  the  manufacture  of  lubricants  in  the  ordinary  manner. 
The  difference  between  the  behavior  of  this  crude,  and  that  from  the 
Cosmopolitan  wells  of  nearly  the  same  gravity,  is  very  striking. 

HOPPER  CANYON  WELLS. 

The  earlier  wells  in  Hopper  Canon  were  drilled  many  years  ago,  and 
appear  to  be  located  in  broken  ground  adjacent  to  a  main  north  and 
south  fault,  which  has,  in  a  general  way,  determined  the  location  of  this 
caiion.  Later  work  has  been  done  to  the  south  and  east  of  the  old  wells, 
resulting  in  fairly  good  yields  of  lighter  oil,  apparently  from  forma- 
tions in  place,  and  at  a  greater  depth.  Little  is  recorded  as  to  the  old 
wells,  which,  however,  are  of  no  very  great  interest  at  the  present  time. 

San  Cayetano  Oil  Company — Oil  King  Company.  The  most  north- 
erly well  in  this  caiion  was  drilled  by  the  San  Cayetano  Oil  Company, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  main  caiion,  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  1. 
This  well  was  drilled  in  1900,  was  600  feet  deep,  and  yielded  some  gas, 
but  no  oil.  Later  this  property  was  leased  to  the  Oil  King  Company,, 
who  drilled  two  wells,  on  the  west  side  of  the  caiion,  and  in  the  south- 
west quarter  of  the  section.  The  numbers  of  these  wells  are  uncertain, 
but  the  more  northerly  was  only  160  feet  deep,  and  the  southern  600. 
Neither  is  known  to  have  yielded  any  oil. 

Sunset  Oil  Company.  The  wells  of  the  Sunset  Oil  Company  of  Los 
Angeles  are  all  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  12.  The  first  of  these 
wells  was  drilled  in  1889,  and  the  balance  soon  thereafter.  No.  1  was  a 
spoiled  hole  at  900  feet,  No.  2  is  a  producer  at  300  feet.  No.  3  was  a  dry 
hole,  depth  not  known.  No.  4  is  a  producer,  and  something  over  1000 
feet  deep.  No.  5  was  abandoned.  No.  6  is  a  700-foot  producer,  and 
No.  7  produces  from  the  600-foot  level.  No.  8  was  a  dry  hole,  depth 
not  recorded.  No.  9  is  a  700-foot  producer.  No.  10  was  abandoned  at 
700  feet  because  of  shifting  sand,  and  No.  11  at  the  same  depth,  as  a 
dry  hole. 

The  five  producing  wells  pump  by  heads,  making  some  seven  barrels 
of  a  black  oil  approximating  14°  Beaume. 

Buckhorn  Oil  and  Transportation  Company — C.  C.  Harris  Oil  Com- 
pany. The  former  company  originally  owned  and  operated  a  group  of 
seventeen  shallow  wells,  lying  in  the  turn  in  Hopper  Canon,  on  the  west 
half  of  northwest  quarter  of  section  13,  and  the  east  half  of  northeast 
quarter  of  section  14.  These  wells  lie  on  both  sides  of  the  caiion.  and 
eight  of  the  seventeen  are  still  on  the  jack,  and  making  a  small  amount  of 
heavy  oil.     The  records,  so  far  as  now  obtainable,  are  as  follows : 


118  PETROLEUM    IN    SOKTIIEUX    CA  1,1  FOKNI A. 

No.  1,  a  spring-pole  hole,  drilled  in  1884  to  a  depth  of  85  feet  only. 
This  hole  produced  in  all  800  barrels  of  a  12°  oil,  then  choked  and  was 
abandoned. 

No.  2,  drilled  in  1887,  depth  90  feet — producing. 

No.  3,  drilled  in  1887,  abandoned  because  of  crooked  hole  at  150  feet, 
with  some  oil. 

No.  4,  drilled  in  1888.    A  200-foot  water  well. 

No.  5,  drilled  in  1888  to  a  depth  of  450  feet.  This  well  was  originally 
good  for  40  barrels  per  day. 

No.  6,  drilled  in  1888,  crooked  hole  at  150  feet. 

No.  7,  drilled  in  1888,  crooked  hole  at  250  feet. 

No.  8,  drilled  in  1888,  a  producer  of  very  heavy  oil  at  400  feet. 

No.  9,  abandoned,  no  data. 

No.  10,  abandoned,  no  data. 

No.  11,  producer,  no  data. 

No.  12,  drilled  in  1889,  producer,  less  than  100  feet  deep. 

No.  13,  drilled  in  1889,  a  400-foot  producer. 

No.  14,  a  250-foot  water  well. 

No.  15,  drilled  in  1889,  depth  900  feet,  initial  production  10  barrels. 

No.  16,  depth  1100  feet,  initial  production  30  barrels  of  17°  oil. 

No.  17,  depth  700  feet,  abandoned. 

These  wells  are  now  the  property  of  the  C.  C.  Harris  Oil  Company. 

H.  G.  Cafes  Estate  has  four  producing  and  two  drilling  wells.  No.  1 
is  just  east  of  the  old  holes,  was  drilled  in  1904,  is  1400  feet  deep,  and 
is  a  producer.  No.  2,  north  of  No.  1,  was  drilled  in  1908  to  a  depth  of 
1500  feet,  and  is  a  producer.  No.  3  is  near  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
northwest  quarter,  was  drilled  in  1909,  and  is  a  producer  at  about  1500 
feet.  No.  5  is  southeast  of  No.  3,  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  and  is  a 
producer  at  2222  feet.  No.  7,  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  this  section, 
is  drilling. 

Ihex  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  two  drilling  wells,  No.  6, 
near  the  northeast  corner  of  the  southwest  quarter,  and  No.  8,  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  12. 

G.  C.  Barris  Oil  Company— Boulder  Greek  Land  &  Oil  Company. 
The  hole  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  24 
was  drilled  by  the  C.  C.  Harris  Oil  Company  in  191].  This  well  is  a 
producer  at  960  feet,  and  is  said  to  be  doing  25  barrels  daily.  The 
lease  and  well  have  lately  passed  to  Boulder  Creek  Land  &  Oil  Company. 

Bradley  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  two  wells  on  the  Canon 
claim,  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  13.  No.  1,  near 
the  southeast  corner  of  this  tract,  was  drilled  in  1900,  and  is  a  dry  hole 
at  1100  feet.  No.  2,  on  the  west  line  of  the  section,  and  the  east  side  of 
the  canon,  w^as  drilled  in  1901,  and  is  a  dry  hole  at  800  feet. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANON  WELLS.  119 

St.  Louis  Oil  Company.  In  1901  this  company  drilled  a  1000-foot 
hole  on  the  north  side  of  Toms  Canon,  near  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  14.    This  hole  is  reported  to  have  been  quite  barren. 

Buckhorn  Oil  and  Alining  Company.  On  the  Shirley  Wilson  tract, 
the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  23,  in  the  hills  west  of 
Hopper  Canon.  No.  1,  300  feet,  dry  hole;  No.  2,  280  feet,  dry  hole; 
No.  3,  800  feet,  with  some  gas. 

United  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  the  year  1902,  in  the 
hills  facing  the  Santa  Clara  Valley,  west  of  the  mouth  of  Hopper  Caiion. 
This  well  is  said  to  be  1200  feet  deep,  and  is  variously  reported  to  have 
been  a  dry  hole,  and  to  have  shown  some  oil. 

Southland  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company,  drilled  in  1900, 
is  on  the  east  side  of  Fairview  Canon,  just  north  of  the  south  line  of 
section  22.  This  well  is  something  over  1000  feet  deep ;  it  is  reported  as 
a  dry  hole. 

Other  reports  state  that  this  well  is  only  600  feet  deep.  It  is  flowing 
water  and  traces  of  black,  very  heavy  oil. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California.  About  1893  this  company  is  said 
to  have  drilled  a  well  of  considerable  depth  in  Fairview  Caiion.  This 
hole  can  not  now  be  located. 

Tapo  Oil  Company.  This  corporation  are  reported  to  have  drilled 
in  the  years  1901  and  1902,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  13,  4-19,  just  northeast  of  the  Fortuna  w^ells  (Buck- 
horn  Oil  and  Transportation  Company) .  This  well  can  not  now  be 
located. 

QUALITY    OF    HOPPER    CAnON    OILS. 

All  the  Hopper  Canon  oils  are  of  a  heavy  fuel  grade,  running  from 
14°  to  15.5°  Beaume.  These  oils  closely  resemble  San  Joaquin  Valley 
oils  of  +he  same  gravity,  giving  a  large  yield  of  asphalt,  and  of  lubri- 
cants, the  latter  being  of  high  viscosity  and  cold  test. 

Under  present  market  conditions,  none  of  these  oils  can  be  considered 
refining  oils.  As  produced  they  contain,  as  a  rule,  considerable  water, 
which  does  not  emulsifv,  but  settles  readilv  on  heating. 


5467.* 
Sunset  Oil   Company.     Wells   No.  6  and    No.   9. 

Gravity 14.0°  Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  viscous  oil,  of  a  brownish  color,  and  with  a  sweet  and 
slightly  sulfurous  odor.  This  oil  is  somewhat  less  viscous  than  a  Valley  oil  of 
corresponding  gravity. 


♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


120  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Distillation. 
A  sample  of  130  cc,  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  continued  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut   6.5  per  cent  39.3°  Beaum6 

Second  cut 13.4  per  cent  30.3° 

Third  cut GO.l  per  cent  19.2° 

Fixed  carbon 11.0  grams  per  100  cc. 

100.0  per  cent 

Last  fraction  of  distillate  rerun  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  carbon  cal- 
culated to  asphalt.     This  gives  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline G1.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  3.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil   33.0°  17.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28.7°  21.0  per  cent    /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 13.2°  31.5  per  cent    ^9-2°— 52.-5% 

Asphalt    "D"  27.5  per  cent  or  90.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  small  quantity  of  kerosene  was  of  fair  color  only,  and  the  stove 
oil  had  a  sour  odor,  which  treatment  did  not  much  improve.  The  lubri- 
cating stock  was  of  low  gravity  and  excellent  color,  and  broke  down 
very  little  in  distillation.  The  reduced  stock  was  also  of  good  color, 
and  viscous,  but  on  treatment  the  viscosity  broke  badly,  and  the  red 
oil,  at  a  gravity  of  15.9°  Beaume,  was  much  below  the  viscosity  normal 
to  that  weight.  As  the  percentage  of  asphalt  is  rather  low,  this  oil  is,. 
on  the  whole,  of  little  refining  value. 


5468.* 

Aloha    Oil    Company.     Center   Wells. 

Gravity 15.2°  Beaum§ 

This  is  a  brownish  oil,  of  a  viscosity  rather  low  for  this  gravity.     The  odor  is 
very  sweet. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  cc,  distilled  from  copper,  first  cut  dry,  last  cut  in  a  current 
of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 10.5  per  cent  31.0°  Beaum6 

Second  cut 81.9  per  cent  21.0" 

Fixed  carbon 5.8    grams  per  100  cc. 

Loss    1.8  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

•Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


SESPE  AND  HOPPER  CANOX  WELLS.  121 

Second  cut  was  reduced  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  carbon  calculated  to 
asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  None 

Stove  oil 33.0°  8.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.0°  25.3  per  cent    )  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.7°  52.2  per  cent    \  21.0° — 77.5% 

Asphalt    "D"  14.5  per  cent  or  50.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  lubricating  stock  was  of  low  gravity,  good  color,  and  fair  vis- 
cosity, and  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  the  same  properties.  The  red  oil 
was  of  rather  deep  color,  with  a  high  viscosity  and  Ioav  cold  test,  and  of 
16.2^  Beaume.  The  percentage  of  asphalt  is  very  low  for  an  oil  of 
this  gravity,  and  undoubtedly  accounts  for  the  unusually  low  viscosity 
of  the  crude. 

5477.* 

Aloha   Oil   Company.     Weils   Nos.   1,  2  and  3. 

Gravity 15.1°  Beaum^ 

This  is  a  more  viscous  oil  than  No.  54GG,  is  even  more  brownish  in  color,  and  has 
the  same  sickening  sweet  odor.  » 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  in  a  current  of  gas.     Distillation 
carried  to  dry  coke. 

First   cut 5.2  per  cent  33.0°  Beaum6 

Second    cut    87.2  per  cent  21.8° 

Fixed  carbon 7.6  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

Second  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  ga?,  and  carbon  calculated  to 
asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  None 

Stove  oil   33.0°  5.2  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.4°  30.3  per  cent    \  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.5°  45.5  per  cent    S  21.8° — 75.8% 

Asphalt "D"  19.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

This  oil  shows  a  little  more  asphalt  than  the  preceding  sample,  though 
the  yield  is  still  very  low  for  an  oil  of  this  gravity.  The  lubricating 
stock  is  of  good  color  and  odor,  and  gives  a  reduced  stock  of  low  gravity 
and  high  viscosity.     These  oils  are  free  from  paraffin. 

♦Analysis  by  J.    P.   P. 


122 


PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


7420.* 
C.   C.    Harris  Oil   Company.     Fortuna   No.   15. 

Gravity 14.6°  Beaum6 

Viscosity  at  1S0°  F 4.20°    Redwood 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  gla.ss  flask,  without  the  use  of  steam  or  gas. 

Below  392°  F 5.9  per  cent  32.6°  Beaum6 

392  to  482" 15.3  per  cent  27.5° 

482  to  572° 6.0  per  cent  

572  to  grade— a 23.7  per  cent  22.9° 

572  to  grade — b 16.7  per  cent  20.4° 

Asphalt  — 23.0  per  cent  Grade  doubtful 

Loss 0.1  per  cent    ■ 

Water 9.3  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 

Eliminating  the  water,  this  is  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following 
commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  6.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants —  22°  68.0  per  cent    (not   separated) 

Asphalt    —  26.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

It  Avill  be  noted  that  even  when  distilled  in  this  manner,  the  worst 
possible  for  the  preservation  of  the  lubricating  stock,  this  is  still  of  a 
very  low  gravity.  The  freedom  from  decomposition  of  these  crudes  is 
probably  due  to  lack  of  paraffin. 

•Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


THE    BARDSDALE    WELLS.  123 


CHAPTER  YI. 


THE  BARDSDALE  WELLS. 

Townships  3-20  and  3-19. 

The  only  developments  in  these  townships  are  the  group  known  as 
llie  Bardsdale  wells,  in  sections  11  and  12,  3-20,  and  in  6  and  7  in  3-19, 
with  a  few  prospect  holes  scattered  along  the  Santa  Clara  face  of  the 
ridge,  east  and  west  of  these. 

The  hills  known  as  Oak  Ridge  rise  quite  abruptly  on  the  south  side 
of  Santa  Clara  Valley,  but  are  less  precipitous  than  are  the  hills  fur- 
ther east.  The  south  side  of  these  hills,  that  is,  the  side  toward  Simi 
Valley,  is  rounded  and  rolling,  but  the  Santa  Clara  side  is  steep  enough 
to  make  access  difficult  except  through  the  canons. 

The  formations  of  the  main  ridge  dip  very  uniformly  to  the  south, 
i.  e.,  to  the  Simi  side,  to  which  fact  is  due  the  more  gentle  slope  of  this 
face.  These  formations  crop  in  the  higher  faces  along  a  line  closely 
parallel  to  the  south  line  of  the  Sespe  tract,  but  somewhat  further  to 
the  south,  roughly  half  a  mile.  The  foot  of  these  cliffs  is  covered,  but 
it  appears  likely  at  least  that  this  line  represents  a  long  and  profound 
fault,  upthrust  at  the  south  side,  and  extending  across  both  townships. 

North  of  this  fault  line  the  formation  dips  to  the  north  and  disap- 
pears beneath  the  valley  w^ash,  but  at  a  less  angle.  This  north-dipping 
formation  is  of  later  age  than  that  to  the  south,  and  of  softer  rock, 
and  we  thus  have,  over  most  of  this  distance,  a  secondary  chain  of  low 
rounded  hills  lying  against  the  foot  of  the  higher  and  more  rugged  hills 
into  which  the  south-dipping  rocks  are  carved.  This  arrangement  bears 
a  general  similarity  to  an  anticline,  as  we  have  two  sets  of  strata  dipping 
away  from  each  other,  but  as  the  apparent  arch  is  faulted  down  its 
axis,  and  one  of  its  limbs  raised  much  above  the  other,  the  anticlinal 
structure  proper  is  lacking,  and  the  rules  normally  applying  to  such 
structure  do  not  follow  here. 

These  wells  are  all,  so  far  as  known,  in  the  north-dipping  formation, 
and  the  opposite  limb  is  not  known  to  be  productive,  within  the  limits 
of  this  township.  As  it  is  productive,  however,  a  little  further  to  the 
east  (see  Torrey  wells),  it  is  by  no  means  impossible  that  it  may  be  at 
this  point  also. 
Bardsdale  Wells. 

The  Union  Oil  Company  of  California  have  been  operating  this  ter- 
ritory for  many  years,  and,  with  the  exception  of  two  later  companies, 
the  Bardsdale  Crude  Oil  Company  and  the  Lapp-Giford  Company,  are 
the  owners  of  all  the  productive  wells  in  this  group.  Many  prospect 
wells  have  been  drilled  around  this  small  group  of  producers,  but  so 


124  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

far  the  efforts  to  extend  have  resulted  in  failure.  The  list  of  these 
developments  is  as  follows : 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Robertson  Tract.  On  this  tract 
the  Union  Oil  Company  has  fourteen  wells,  all  but  one  of  which  are 
producers.  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1896,  and  was  abandoned  when  finished, 
though  depth  and  reasons  for  abandoning  are  not  known.  No.  9  was 
drilled  in  1897,  and  is  750  feet  deep.  No.  10,  drilled  in  the  same  year, 
is  1240  feet  deep.  No.  12,  drilled  in  1898,  is  1320  feet  deep,  No.  13  is 
1565  feet  deep,  and  No.  14,  drilled  in  1899,  is  1040  feet  deep.  The  pro- 
duction of  these  wells  is  not  known,  but  is  not  large.  The  oil  is  of  good 
quality. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Grimes  Tract.  On  this  tract, 
the  east  half  of  the  east  half  of  section  12,  are  nine  wells,  six  of  which 
are  producers.  No.  1,  drilled  in  1896,  is  a  producer  at  595  feet.  No.  3, 
drilled  in  1897,  was  abandoned  when  drilled.  No.  5,  drilled  in  1898,  is 
1265  feet  deep,  and  is  not  known  to  have  ever  produced.  No.  7  was 
drilled  in  1897,  and  was  probably  a  failure,  as  there  is  no  record  of  its 
having  been  on  the  pump.  No.  9,  drilled  in  1898,  is  a  producer  at  1345 
feet. 

The  earliest  record  of  the  production  of  the  group  of  wells  covering 
the  Robertson  and  Grimes  tracts,  with  one  on  the  Burson,  is  for  1900, 
when  twenty-four  wells  were  reported  to  be  making  approximately  600Q 
barrels  per  month,  or  slightly  over  eight  barrels  per  day  per  well.  In 
1911  this  same  group,  consisting  now  of  twenty  producers,  was  said  to  be 
making  in  the  neighborhood  of  3000  barrels  per  month,  or  an  average 
of  five  barrels  per  day  per  well.  Considering  the  age  of  these  wells,  this 
slight  rate  of  decrease  is  rather  remarkable,  even  for  Ventura  County. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Santa  Susana.  In  1899  the 
Union  Oil  Company  drilled  on  this  lease,  now  operated  by  the  Lapp- 
Gifford  Company.  This  hole  was  dry  at  1830  feet — it  is  not  spotted 
on  the  map,  as  it  can  not  be  located,  though  shown  on  the  records. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Bookhout.  A  well  drilled  by 
the  Union  on  this  tract,  now  operated  by  the  Bardsdale  Crude  Oil  Com- 
pany in  1892.  It  was  1700  feet  deep,  and  is  recorded  "not  much  oil"; 
at  any  rate,  it  never  produced.  Its  location  in  relation  to  the  present 
producing  wells  can  not  be  learned. 

John  Irwin  Oil  Company.  This  corporation,  a  sub-company  of  the 
Union  Oil  Company  of  California,  drilled  on  the  Omega  tract,  the  south- 
Avest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  1,  3-20.  This  well  was 
1100  feet  deep,  and  was  abandoned  on  account  of  water,  without  finding 
any  oil. 

Alger  (&  Gilmore.     A  partnership  under  this  name  drilled  on  the 


THE    BARDSD.U^    WELLS.  125 

Baleom  tract,  in  the  flat,  near  the  west  line  of  section  9,  3-20,  in  1903. 
This  well  was  1200  feet  deep,  and  did  not  find  any  oil. 

F.  0.  Wood  is  drilling  in  Sulphur  Caiion,  on  the  Miles  Baleom  farm, 
in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  10,  3-20.  In  March,  1912,  this  well 
was  reported  to  be  2000  feet  deep. 

Santa  Paula  Home  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  two  wells 
en  property  of  E.  C.  Converse,  Jr.,  in  section  23,  3-21,  in  the  year  1901. 
No.  1  was  abandoned  at  1000  feet,  with  no  oil,  but  a  large  amount  of 
water.    No.  2  was  stopped  at  about  600  feet  for  financial  reasons. 

Oah  Ridge  Oil  Company.  Has  a  hole  of  unknown  depth  in  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  14,  3-21.  In  February,  1912,  this  rig  had 
been  suspended  for  some  time. 

Bardsdale  Crude  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  eight  shallow 
wells,  all  producers,  on  the  Bookhout  tract,  southwest  quarter  of  north- 
west quarter  of  section  12,  3-20.  The  records  for  these  wells  are  as 
follows:  No.  1,  drilled  in  1894,  580  feet.  No.  2,  drilled  in  1900,  649 
feet.  No.  3,  drilled  in  1901,  550  feet.  No.  4,  same  year,  425  feet.  No.  5, 
same  year,  450  feet.  No.  6,  same  year,  660  feet.  No.  7,  same  year,  630 
feet.  No.  8,  drilled  in  1909,  depth  1550  feet.  This  well  is  a  much 
larger  producer  than  any  of  the  foregoing,  being  rated  at  a  twenty- 
barrel  output. 

Lapp-Gifford  Company,  Inc.  This  company  has  three  producers 
and  three  drilling  wells  on  the  Santa  Susana  lease,  the  northeast  quarter 
of  the  southwest  quarter  and  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  12,  3-20.  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1902  by  the  Peter 
Patterson  Oil  Company,  and  is  610  feet  deep.  No.  2  is  504  feet  deep, 
and  No.  3,  705  feet  deep.  Both  the  latter  were  drilled  in  the  same  year 
and  by  the  same  company. 

Bell  Oil  Company.  The  Lapp-Gifford  lease  has  now  passed  to  the 
Bell  Oil  Company,  which  has  drilled  three  wells  and  is  now  working 
on  a  fourth.  Well  No.  4  is  a  producer  at  2200  feet.  No.  5,  at  1800  feet, 
and  No.  6,  at  500  feet.  Well  No.  7  was  drilling  at  900  feet  at  the  end 
of  March,  1912. 

Peter  Patterson  Oil  Company.  Beside  the  three  wells  above  men- 
tioned, this  company  also  drilled  a  hole  in  the  Minnesota  claim,  the 
south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  11.  3-20.  This  hole  was 
drilled  in  1900,  but  the  results  are  not  reported. 

West  Huasna  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  reported  to  have 
leased  the  Omega  claim,  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  1,  3-20,  and  to  be  drilling,  in  June  of  the  current  year.  This 
company  had  previously  operated  in  the  Huasna  country  in  San  Luis 
Obispo  County,  and  in  the  western  extension  of  the  Santa  Maria  field. 


126  PETROLEUM    IN"    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

In  ]\rareh,  1912,  this  liole  "svas  reported  as  a  ten-barrel  producer  at 
about  1900  feet. 

Montehello  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  deep  hole,  reported 
to  be  3100  feet  deep,  on  the  E.  Burson  tract,  the  west  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  6,  3-19.  This  hole  has  made  some  oil  of  high 
gravity,  but  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  producer. 

Hardly  Able  Oil  Company.  Immediately  north  of  the  foregoing,  a 
well  was  drilled  many  years  since.  This  hole  is  reported  to  have  been 
dry  at  somewhere  about  800  feet. 

Union  Oil  Compa^iy  of  California — Burson.  On  the  same  tract,  the 
Union  Oil  Company  drilled  two  wells  in  1898  and  1899.  No.  1  is  a 
small  producer  at  1230  feet.  No.  2,  just  to  the  east,  is  1399  feet : 
abandoned. 

Merchants  and  Traders'  Oil  Company.  On  the  same  tract,  but  on 
the  east  line,  and  about  three  eighths  of  a  mile  north,  an  abandoned 
well.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1903,  and  was  a  dry  hole  at  some  seven 
hundred  feet. 

Bardsdale  Oil  Company  of  Pomona.  On  the  Lysle  place,  just  to  the 
northeast  of  the  foregoing,  this  company  drilled  a  hole  in  1901.  Depth 
something  over  seven  hundred  feet;  never  produced. 

Capital  Crude  Oil  Company.  On  the  Climax  claim,  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  7.  Depth  not  known,  a  small  producer,  now  being 
pumped  by  the  Union  Oil  Company  in  connection  with  the  Grimes  wells. 
An  abandoned  well  a  short  distance  to  the  east  was  probably  drilled  by 
the  same  parties,  but  no  data  is  available. 

Bardsdale  Canon  Oil  Company.  Two  wells  on  the  Elkins  tract,  sec- 
tion 7.  No.  1  is  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter,  was 
drilled  in  1901,  to  760  feet,  and  was  abandoned  on  account  of  water 
without  finding  oil.  No.  2  is  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  northwest 
quarter,  was  drilled  in  1902,  and  was  abandoned  at  1000  feet  with  a 
trace  of  oil. 

Grimes  &  Son.  A  hole  on  the  north  or  east  side  of  Grimes  Caiion, 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  southwest  quarter  of  section  7,  is  credited 
to  Grimes  &  Son,  and  is  said  to  be  about  400  feet  deep. 

Central  Union  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  on  the 
Shiells  place,  the  north  half  of  section  4,  and  is,  therefore,  to  the  east 
of  the  developments  above  mentioned.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1901, 
and  was  a  dry  hole  at  800  feet. 

Montehello  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  lately  developed  some 
rather  remarkable  territory  on  the  Shiells  tract,  section  4,  3-19.  Here 
they  have  eight  producing  wells  and  one  drilling  (March,  1912),  only 
a  short  distance  south  of  the  old  Central  Union  hole.    But  little  can  be 


THE    BARDSDALE    "VN-ELLS.  127 

learned  as  to  the  depths  and  productiveness  of  these  welLs.  No.  5  is 
said  to  be  267  feet  deep,  and  to  be  steadily  producing  80  barrels  per 
daj' — this  well  flowed  when  brought  in.  No.  15  is  said  to  be  but  160 
feet  deep,  and  to  be  good  for  85  barrels  per  day.  One  of  these  wells, 
however  (probably  No.  6),  is  reported  to  be  in  the  neighborhood  of 
1800  feet  deep,  and  to  produce  even  lighter  oil  than  the  shallower  wells. 
The  production  from  these  wells  approximates  28°  gravity. 

Calumet  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company,  in  the  northeast 
quarter,  southwest  quarter  section  3,  3-19,  was  2250  feet,  drilling  in 
]^Iarch,  1912.    No  oil  yet  reported. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Gniberson.  This  company  drilled 
in  1901  on  the  "Wanda  Guiberson  tract,  on  the  east  side  of  Guiberson 
Canon,  and  just  east  of  the  west  line  of  section  2,  3-19.  This  hole  was 
spoiled  at  1200  feet,  and  abandoned  without  finding  oil. 

Erie  Oil  Company.  Just  south  of  the  foregoing,  the  Erie  Oil  Com- 
pany, drilled  in  1902.    Deptli  reported  at  1600  feet — no  oil. 

QUALITY    OF    THE    BARDSDALE    OILS. 

The  oils  of  this  group  show  a  strong  resemblance  to  each  other  in 
appearance,  being  all  of  a  black  color,  but  not  very  opaque,  are  very 
thin  and  limpid,  having  a  sweetish  and  rather  mild  odor. 

On  analysis,  also,  they  show  a  strong  resemblance,  and  evidently  come 
from  one  set  of  sands,  it  being  probable  that  the  upper  sand  from  which 
the  Bardsdale  Crude  wells  Nos.  1  to  7  produce  is  a  stray,  containing 
seepage  from  the  lower  sand.  Eliminating  these  welLs,  all  the  samples 
show  a  striking  uniformity  of  gravity,  ranging  only  from  27.6"  to  29.3° 
Beaume. 

The  gasoline  in  all  these  oils  runs  high  in  quantity  and  also  in  starting 
point,  this  latter  feature  causing  the  jield  of  engine  distillate  to  be  small 
or  absent.  The  wide  boiling  range  of  the  gasoline  thus  cut  somewhat 
depreciates  it  for  the  most  particular  trade,  though  it  is  still  entirely 
marketable.  The  kerosene  fraction  is  normal,  as  is  the  stove  oil  in  all 
but  one  sample,  that  from  Bardsdale  Crude  No.  8.  This  oil,  run  under 
strictly  normal  conditions,  breaks  down  so  greatly  at  the  beginning  of 
the  lubricating  cut  as  to  give  a  very  high  yield  of  stove  oil. 

The  lubricating  stock  from  all  these  oils  cracks  very  readily,  and 
is  in  all  cases  solid  with  paraffin,  and  therefore  of  little  value,  as  the 
paraffin  does  not  crystallize,  and  so  cannot  be  pressed  out.  The  asphalt 
percentage  is  normal  for  oils  of  this  gravity. 

These  oils  are  notably  dissimilar  to  any  other  oils  produced  in  Ventura 
county,  being  more  like  the  crudes  of  Santa  ]\Iaria,  the  latter  showing 
the  same  high  sulphur  percentage,  large  gasoline  and  small  engine-dis- 
tillate yield,  and  the  same  tendency  to  paraffin  in  the  lubricating  stock. 


128  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

While  the  yield  of  naphthas  from  these  crudes  is  good,  they  are  not  well 
rounded  refining  oils,  because  of  the  failure  of  the  heavy  end  of  the  oil. 

5470.* 
Bardsdale   Crude   Oil   Co.     Well    No.   8. 

■Gravity 27.7°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  limpid,  very  blacli  oil,  with  a  mild  and  sweet  odor.  The  well  from  which 
this  sample  was  taken  is  considerably  deeper  than  the  other  wells  on  this  lease. 

An  average  sample  from  the  seven  shallow  wells  was  considerably  more  viscous, 
but  had  the  characteristic  color  and  odor.  The  gravity  of  this  sample  was  19.8° 
Beaume. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First   cut   12.7  per  cent  61.2°  Beaume 

Second    cut    7.0  per  cent  50.5° 

Third    cut    8.0  per  cent  42.0° 

Fourth    cut    41.3  per  cent  32.9° 

Fifth   cut   25.4  per  cent  21.4° 

Fixed  carbon 5.6  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0 

The  lubricating  stock  from  this  distillation  was  too  small  in  quantity 
to  be  re-run.  After  calculation  of  the  asphalt,  the  following  commercial 
analysis  is  shown: 

Gasoline 61.1°  Beaum6       13  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  5  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  12  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  39  per  cent 

Lubricating  stock 21.4°  17  per  cent 

Asphalt    "D"  14  per  cent  or  47  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100  per  cent 

The  yield  of  stove  oil  from  this  crude  is  most  remarkable,  and  is 
evidently  due  to  severe  decomposition  of  the  lubricating  stock.  This  in 
spite  of  the  fact  that  distilling  conditions  were  quite  normal. 

The  light  products  refine  fairly  well,  to  fair  colors  and  very  sweet 
odors.  The  asphalt  is  normal  for  an  oil  of  this  gravity.  What  remains 
of  the  lubricating  stock  is  thick  with  amorphous  paraffin,  and  apparently 
valueless. 


•Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


IMIK    J5AEDSDALK    WELLS.  129 

Union    Oil    Company   of    California.     Robertson    No.    2. 

Gravity 27.6°   Beaum6 

Viscosity  at  60°  F. 7.43    Redwood   (water — 1) 

Viscosity  at  180°  F. 1.51    Redwood  (water — 1) 

Flash  point Below  60°  F.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

Sulfur _ 1.74  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 18,871  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 
A  sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  still,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Bl-1ow  212°  F. 8.9  per  cent  08.9°  Beaume 

212  to  302° 10.6  per  cent  53.9° 

:',02  to  392° 8.7  per  cent  44.7° 

392  to  482° 7.3  per  cent  37.9° 

482  to  572° ■_ 15.5  per  cent  32.2° 

572°  to  grade 29.0  per  cent  29.5° 

Asphalt    16.9  per  cent  Grade  "D"   (about) 

Loss    3.1  per  cent 

100.0 

This  is  closely  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

<;asoline    61°  Beaume  18  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  17  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  14  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants 29.50  19  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  29  per  cent  or  102  lbs.  per  bbl. 

Lo.ss 3  per  cent 

100  per  cent 

The  hardness  of  the  asphalt  is  not  stated,  and  the  quantity  is  so  large 
for  an  oil  of  this  gravity  as  to  make  it  probable  that  it  was  softer  than 
the  standard.  The  lubricating  stock  in  this  distillation  is  evidently. very 
badly  cracked. 

4480.* 
Union    Oil    Company    of    California.     Robertson,    west    end    wells,    mixture. 

Gravity 29.5°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil,  of  a  very  black  color,  with  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  was  distilled  from  copper,  without  gas  or  steam.     Run 
was  interrupted  at  the  end  of  the  stove-oil  cut,  and  asphalt  not  determined. 

First   cut   13.3  per  cent  62.7°  Beaumfi 

Second  cut 7.3  per  cent  52.3° 

Third  cut 10.4  per  cent  41.9" 

Fourth  cut 15.7  per  cent  32.4° 

Residue,  fuel  oil 53.3  per  cent  


100.0 


*  Analysis  by  H.   N.   Cooper 
'Analysis  by  J.   P.  P. 

10—63 


\'A()  I'KTROLEUM    IN    SOFTHEEN    CALIl'OHNIA. 

These  figures  give  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaiim^  IG  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  2  ikt  emit 

Kerosene 42°  15  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  14  per  cent 

Fuel  residue 53  per  cent 

100 

This  crude  gives  a  much  smaller  yield  of  stove  oil  than  No.  5470,  and 
uoes  not  break  down  so  badly.  Like  most  of  the  paraffin-carrying  oils, 
however,  the  stove  oil  cut  shows  some  signs  of  decomposition  of  the 
crude.  The  residue  from  this  run  contains  much  paraffin,  and  is  of  a 
butter-like  consistency. 

The  gasoline  starts  very  high,  and  gives  61°  gasoline  with  a  very  wide 
distilling  range,  which  is  objectionable  for  particular  work.  The  light 
oils  treat  out  well. 

2442.t 

Union    Oil    Company   of   California.     Grimes    No.    1. 

Gravity  28.0°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  limpid,  black  oil,  of  a  sweet  odor.  The  viscosity  at  G0°  F.  is  13.6  by  the 
Engler  test. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass,  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
—  X  0.8)  for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are: 

Below  212°  F 5.0  per  cent        ;    ^^  ^o  x> 

212  to  302°  F 7.9  per  cent        j61.6Beaum^ 

302  to  518°  F 20.5  per  cent  43.4° 

Residue  above  518°  F 66.6  per  cent  16.5° 

100.0  per  cent 

The  gravity  of  this  residue  is  rather  high,  considering  the  temperature 
at  which  the  crude  was  run,  and  indicated  paraffin  in  the  residue.  After 
evaporation  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  the  above  figures  are  approxi- 
mately equal  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    , 61°Beaum6  14.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  21.0  per  cen,t 

Stove  oil  and  lubricants 44.5  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt    ^ "D"  20.5  per  cent  or  72  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

tAnalysis  by  E.   N.   Moor. 


THE  BARDSDALB  WELLS.  131 

4476.  • 
Union    Oil    Company    of   California.     Grimes,    east    end   wells. 

Gravily    27.7°  Beaumg 

This  is  a  limpid  oil,  of  a  blackish  color,  and  a  mild  aud  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  was  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in 
a  current  of  inert  gas.     Distilled  to  dryness. 

First  cut 13.4  per  cent  63.6°  Beaum^ 

Second  cut 8.2  per  cent  52.4° 

Third  cut 9.7  per  cent  42.4° 

Fourth  cut 17.0  per  cent  32.3° 

Fifth   cut   44.6  per  cent  2G.4° 

Fixed  carbon 7.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner, 
and  the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas.  The  above  figures  give 
approximately  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline    61°  Beaumg  17.5  per  cent 

Engine   distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  18.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  13.2  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   30.5°  18.2  per  cent )  Slop   distillate 

Reduced   stock 17.8°  15.5  per  cent  ^  26.4° — 33.7  per  cent 

Asphalt   "D"  17.8  per  cent  or  62  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0 

The  light  end  of  this  oil  refined  only  fairly  well,  giving,  with  the 
test  acid,  products  of  only  fair  color  and  odor,  the  latter  in  particular 
being  rather  sharp  and  penetrating.  The  yield  of  stove  oil  is  low,  and 
does  not  indicate  the  decomposition  of  lubricating  stock  noted  in  the 
oils  from  farther  west  in  this  group. 

The  lubricating  stock  is  of  only  fair  viscosity,  but  of  good  color,  and 
gives  a  reduced  stock  of  satisfactory  color,  and  quite  solid  with  paraffin 
at  60°  F,  This  treats  out  to  a  red  oil  of  deep  red  color  and  fair  outer 
tone,  with  a  cold  test  above  70°  F.,  and  therefore  of  little  commercial 
value.     Even  the  fuel  distillate  from  this  oil  shows  some  paraffin. 

The  light  end  of  this  oil  runs  high  in  gasoline,  and  is  therefore  of 
value.     The  usefulness  of  the  heavj^  end  is  very  doubtful. 


•Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


182  PETROLEUM    JN    SOUTHERN    CALiFOKX  lA 

4488.* 
Union   Oil   Company  of  California.     Grimes   No.   9. 

Gravity    28.3°    Beaum6 

This  is  a  limpid  oil,  of  a  dead  black  color,  and  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  outs  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distilled  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 13.2  per  cent  G3.2°  Beaume 

Second  cut 5.S  per  cent  52.2° 

Third  cut 15.G  per  cent  42.6° 

Fourth  cut 13.6  per  cent  33.4° 

Fifth   cut   46.7  per  cent  23.6° 

Fixed  carbon   5.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  last  cut  was  reduced  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  the  carbon  calculated 
to  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner.  This  gives  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  10.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kero.sene   42°  21.0  per  cent 

Stove    oil    33°  10.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate 29.9°  21.8  per  cent  1  Slop   distillate 

Reduced  stock Solid  18.5  per  cent  1-23.6° — 40.3  per  cent 

Asphalt   "D"  12.7  per  cent  J  or  45  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  treat  well,  to  good  colors,  and 
sweet,  very  mild  odors.  The  lubricating  stock  is  strongly  sulfurous,  but 
gives  a  sweet  reduced  stock,  of  good  color,  but  entirely  solid  with  par- 
affin at  normal  temperatures.  The  red  oil  made  from  this  stock  by  the 
standard  acid  treatment  is  pale  red,  with  a  good  green  outertone,  and  a 
gravity  of  20.8°,  the  viscosity  being  rather  low.  This  latter  quality, 
however,  cannot  be  observed  at  ordinary  temperatures,  as  the  oil  has  a 
cold  test  above  75°  F.,  setting  to  a  thick  paste. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


rOHRKY.    EUREKA.    AND    TAl'O    WELLS.  133 


CHAPTER  VI] 


MODELO,  TORREY,  EUREKA,  AND  TAPO  WELLS. 

Townships  4-18  and  3-18. 

These  townships  contain  four  groups  of  producing  wells,  and  a  num- 
ber of  scattering  prospect  holes,  some  of  which  have  been  more  or  less 
productive.  The  producing  groups  are — the  Modelo  wells  on  sections 
7  and  8,  on  the  north  side  of  the  valley  -,  the  Eureka  wells  and  the  Tapo 
wells,  in  the  north-dipping  formation  on  the  south  side  of  the  valley, 
and  the  Torrey  wells,  which  are  higher  in  the  hills,  and  on  the  forma- 
tion which  dips  beneath  the  Simi  Valley.  ]Many  prospect  wells  have 
been  drilled  on  Kancho  Temescal ;  in  the  hills  to  the  east ;  in  the  Nigger 
Canon  territory ;  to  the  west  of  the  Eureka  and  Torrey  wells ;  and  on 
the  Simi  Eancho ;  but  with  the  exception  of  three  wells  of  late  date  on 
the  latter,  with  little  encouragement  to  the  present  time. 
Modelo  and  Temescal  Wells. 

Piru  Creek  takes  its  rise  in  the  high  mountains  to  the  north,  and 
flows  with  a  generally  southern  direction  to  the  Santa  Clara  River.  This 
stream  is  a  winter  torrent,  almost  disappearing  in  summer,  and  occupies 
approximately  the  center  line,  north  and  south,  of  the  Temescal  Rancho, 
which,  indeed,  covers  but  its  valley  and  the  low^  hills  adjacent  thereto. 
East  and  west  of  the  ranch  the  hills  are  high  and  rough,  brush  covered, 
and  comparatively  waterless. 

Modelo  Oil  Company.  The  wells  of  this  company  are  located  at  the 
crest  of  an  east  and  west  anticline,  dipping  sharply  in  both  directions, 
and  plunging  toward  the  east.  The  apex  of  this  anticline  appears  to 
coincide  with  the  upper  portion  of  Modelo  Caiion,  but  though  this  for- 
mation is  plainly  visible  on  the  surface  for  some  distance  both  east  and 
west  of  this  group  of  wells,  it  has  not  yet  been  shown  that  produc- 
tion extends  any  further  in  either  direction  than  the  present  limits  of 
this  small  group  of  wells.  It  should  be  said,  however,  that  no  consistent 
testing  has  ever  been  done  in  either  direction. 

The  first  w^ells  of  this  company  w-ere  drilled  in  1898,  and  operations 
were  carried  on  up  to  1903,  since  which  time  no  new  work  has  been  done. 
Wells  Nos.  1  and  2  were  producers  at  something  over  600  and  800  feet, 
respectively.  No.  3  was  not  drilled.  Nos.  4  to  7  produced  at  750  feet, 
680  feet,  935  feet,  and  980  feet,  respectively,  these  six  wells  ranging 
from  six  to  twelve  barrels  daily  production.  No.  8  is  the  well  farthest 
to  the  east,  and  was  abandoned  on  account  of  flowing  water,  but  the 
depth  is  not  known — this  is  unfortunate,  as  the  location  of  this  well  is 
such  as  to  have  shown  something  as  to  an  eastern  extension,  if  the  hole 


134  I'ETUOLKUM    IN    SOUTHEUN    CALIFORNIA. 

was  carried  to  a  sufficient  depth.  No.  9  was  also  abandoned,  reason  not 
known.  No.  10  was  a  producer  at  1050  feet,  No.  12  at  1103  feet,  while 
Nos.  11  and  13  were  not  drilled.  Nos.  14  and  15  are  860  feet  each,  and 
are  producers.  No,  16  is  a  producer  at  800  feet,  and  No.  17  at  735  feet, 
these  wells  running  about  nine  barrels  each  daily  production.  No.  18, 
drilled  in  1901,  was  abandoned  at  1100  feet — as  this  well  is  practically 
surrounded  by  producers,  it  is  probably  a  spoiled  hole.  No.  19  was 
drilled  in  December,  1910,  while  Nos.  20,  23,  25,  and  27  had  not  been 
drilled.  No  21  is  a  producer  at  1250  feet,  and  No.  22  at  1150  feet. 
No.  24  also  produces  at  1320  feet — these  three  wells  range  around 
nine  barrels  daily  capacity  each.  No.  26,  drilled  in  1902,  was  aban- 
doned at  1310  feet — this  well  is  the  farthest  to  the  north,  and,  therefore, 
farthest  down  the  north  limb,  and  could  hardly  be  considered  a  com- 
pleted hole  at  this  depth.  No.  28  is  a  producer  at  1250  feet,  and  No.  29 
at  1420  feet,  these  wells  being  rated  at  twelve  barrels  per  day  each.  As 
No.  29  is  farthest  to  the  northwest,  and  these  two  wells  are  probably 
the  best  producers  on  the  lease,  there  are  no  indications  of  the  produc- 
ing limits  of  this  group  having  been  reached,  at  least  to  the  Avest  and 
south. 

This  group  of  wells  is  located  on  a  high  and  steep  hill,  and  operations 
are  difficult  for  that  reason.  Indeed,  the  upper  wells  are  not  reached 
by  road,  but  are  served  by  a  cable  railway  which  raises  material  and 
supplies  from  the  eaiion  to  the  more  northerly  wells.  The  formations 
penetrated  are  hard  and  stand  up  well,  and,  aside  from  the  rather  steep 
pitch  of  the  formation,  no  great  difficulties  appear  to  be  experienced  in 
drilling. 

Hutton  &  Compaiitj.  The  two  wells  shown  on  section  7,  4 — 18,  in 
the  southeast  and  southwest  quarters,  respectively,  were  hand-dug  holes, 
put  down  about  the  time  the  first  Modelo  wells  were  drilled.  These 
holes,  where  were  but  a  few  feet  in  depth,  developed  several  gallons 
per  day  each  of  an  oil  generally  resembling  the  Modelo  oil,  but  consid- 
erably heavier.  It  has  been  thought  that  these  holes  locate  the  out- 
crop of  the  south  limb  of  the  Modelo  anticline. 

Slocum  &  Company.  This  company,  which  formerly  operated  the 
Slocum  wells  in  Santa  Paula  Canon,  was  drilling  in  the  later  months 
of  1910,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  8.  4-18,  on  what  appears  to  be 
an  extension  of  Modelo  anticline.  In  Fe])ruary.  1912,  this  well  was 
cementing  at  about  1100  feet,  and  was  flowing  water  with  a  little  oil. 
It  is  reported  that  this  well  found  several  thin  layers  of  pay  sand,  con- 
taining an  oil  slightly  heavier  than  the  average  Modelo  oil,  but  that 
these  sands  were  hard  and  close  grained,  and  therefore  of  small  pro- 
ductiveness. 


MOOKl.O.     lOUltKY,    EUREKA,    AND    TAPO    WELLS.  135 

Firu  Oil  &  Land  Company.  This  company,  which  owns  the  mineral 
rights  to  the  entire  Temescal  Ranch,  has  drilled  either  five  or  seven 
wells,  some  of  which  obtained  some  oil,  but  none  of  which  are  at  present 
producing.  The  little  information  which  can  be  had  as  to  these  wells 
is  as  follows : 

Wells  Nos.  1  and  2  were  drilled  in  1900.  No.  1  is  located  between  the 
road  and  the  (^rcek.  within  the  present  bounds  of  the  Piru  Monarch 
lease.  This  well  was  drilled  to  a  total  depth  of  1195  feet,  and  is  said 
to  have  found  producing  sands  at  432  feet,  840  feet,  and  1035  feet. 
The  water  was  not  shut  off,  and  the  well  is  now  flowing  a  little  rather 
heavy  oil,  and  when  pumped  is  capable  of  doing  perhaps  two  barrels 
per  day. 

Well  No.  2  was  located  west  of  the  Modelo  Caiion  road,  in  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  16.    This  well  was  a  dry  hole  at  1220  feet. 

Well  No.  3  was  in  Blanchard  Caiion,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  9.  This  well  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1680  feet,  and  had  some 
oil  and  gas,  but  it  is  said  that  water  broke  in  and  could  not  be  shut  off. 

'Well  No.  4  was  near  the  center  of  the  south  line  of  the  same  section. 
This  well  was  spoiled  at  a  depth  of  1420  feet,  and  found  no  oil. 

Well  No.  5  was  in  Modelo  Caiion,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 16.    This  hole  was  dry  at  1250  feet. 

Two  later  wells  are  reported,  but  these  can  not  now  be  located,  and 
it  is  possible  that  the  records  have  been  confused.  No.  6  is  said  to  have 
lieen  located  on  the  hills  south  of  Holser  Caiion,  to  have  been  about  1000 
feet  deep,  and  to  have  found  a  little  oil  at  some  four  or  five  hundred 
feet;  No.  7  is  said  to  have  been  drilled  some  twelve  miles  north  of 
Piru,  and  probably  near  the  north  line  of  the  ranch,  in  1903.  No 
information  can  be  had. 

Two  or  three  wells  are  known  to  have  been  drilled  on  this  ranch  at  a 
much  earlier  date,  probably  before  1885,  but  only  the . scantiest  notices 
are  now  available. 

United  Oil  tO  Mining  Compamj.  This  company  operated  in  1909 
and  1910  on  a  lease  from  Piru  Oil  and  Land  Company,  in  the  south- 
eastern corner  of  Temescal  Rancho.  Well  No.  1  of  this  company  was 
located  near  Piru  No.  1,  and  was  drilled  to  700  feet.  At  about  400  feet 
a  thin  sand,  of  some  two  feet  thickness,  was  found,  and  from  this  the 
well  produced  about  two  barrels  per  day  of  an  oil  of  20°  gravity. 

No.  2  was  near  the  southeast  corner  of  section  16,  and  was  carried 
to  a  depth  of  something  like  1500  feet.  At  slight  depth  a  thin  sand, 
producing  medium-grade  oil,  was  found,  and  near  the  bottom  of  the 
hole  several  streaks  producing  gas  and  a  little  oil,  said  to  be  38°  gravity. 
These  sands,  however,  were  thin  and  very  hard,  and  the  well  was  never 
brought  to  production.  The  property  was  abandoned  in  the  current 
3'ear,  when  No.  3  had  reached  but  a  slight  depth. 


]3t)  PETROLEUM    IN    SOlTIIIiUN    C  A  LI  F(M!M  A  . 

Piru  Monarch  Oil  Company.  lu  1911  the  above  property  passed  to 
the  Piru  Monarch  Oil  Company,  who  continued  Avell  No.  2  (now  Piru 
Monarch  No.  1)  to  a  depth  of  1740  feet.  This  well  now  makes  24  barrels 
of  37°  oil  daily,  the  oil  being  of  a  very  peculiar  quality. 

Well  No.  3  (now  Piru  Monarch  No.  2)  is  now  drilling  at  1170  feet, 
with  the  water  shut  off.  The  hole  is  full  of  water,  but  is  showing  con- 
siderable gas  and  some  oil. 

Berkeley  Oil  Company.  On  the  south  side  of  Leckler  Canon,  near 
the  east  line  of  section  1,  4-18.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1901,  and 
abandoned  at  750  feet,  with  two  strings  of  tools  in  the  hole  and  no  indi- 
cations of  oil. 

Crown  King  Oil  Company.  This  company  was  drilling  in  Septein- 
ber,  1910,  on  the  north  side  of  Holser  Caiion,  in  section  12,  4—18. 

Bamona  Home  Oil  Company.  This  company  was  also  drilling  in  a 
branch  caiion  south  of  Holser  Caiion,  near  the  east  line  of  section  13,  in 
the  same  month.  In  February,  1912,  this  well  Avas  1300  feet  deep,  and 
was  having  some  trouble  with  crooked  hole. 

Bamona  Oil  Company.  This  w-ell  was  drilled  iu  1901,  in  the  west 
half  of  west  half  of  section  13.  It  was  something  over  900  feet  deep ;  no 
results  were  reported. 

Nuevo  Camulos  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  located  near  the  west  line 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  14,  4-18,  and  was  drilled  in  1900. 
At  880  feet  this  hole  is  said  to  have  been  entirely  barren. 

These  three  holes  are  all  near  the  apex  of  the  first  ridge  north  of 
Santa  Clara  Valley,  and  were  reached  from  the  north  because  of  the 
steep  pitch  of  this  face  of  the  ridge.  They  appear  to  be  on  formation 
with  a  south  dip,  which  shows  some  seepages  further  to  the  south — on 
fractional  sections  23  and  24.  It  is  more  than  possible  that  all  three 
of  these  wells  were  back  (north)  of  at  least  such  sands  as  outcrop. 

Santa  Atm  Oil  Company.  This  company,  which  also  drilled  in  the 
San  Joaquin  Hills,  near  Newport,  and  in  the  Elsmere  division  of  the 
NewhaU  field,  has  an  abandoned  hole  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
18,  4-18.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1900,  and  is  said  to  have  been  a  dry 
hole  at  600  feet. 

Nettleton  &  Kellerman  Oil  Company.  This  company,  who  also 
operated  at  Newhall,  drilled  three  wells  just  east  of  the  foregoing. 
These  wells  were  put  down  in  1900  and  1901. 

No.  1  -would  have  made  a  small  producer  at  some  300  feet,  perhaps  two 
or  three  barrels  per  day,  of  a  heavy  black  oil  of  some  14°  Beaume.  It 
was  carried  to  a  total  depth  of  1640  feet,  but  found  no  oil  below  this 
shallow  sand,  and  finally  went  into  salt  water.     . 

No.  2  was  located  some  300  feet  in  a  generally  northerly  direction 
from  No.  1,  and  was  a  dry  hole  at  about  800  feet. 


MODKLO.     roHKKY.    milKKA.    AND    TAl'O    WELLS.  137 

No.  3  was  located  some  300  feet  southeast  of  No.  1.  This  well  found 
what  appeared  to  be  the  same  sand  met  in  No.  1,  but  at  a  depth  of  500 
feet,  and  was  then  carried  to  800  feet  without  finding  any  further  oil. 

During  1910  these  wells  were  rigged  for  pumping,  to  furnish  fuel  for 
rigs  in  the  neighborhood,  and  are  said  to  have  developed  about  one  half 
barrel  per  day  each,  steady  production. 

Colonia  Oil  Company  of  Oxnard,  Col.  In  November,  19i^,  this 
company  was  drilling  not  far  south  of  the  Nettleton  &  Kellerman  w-ells, 
and  had  then  reached  a  depth  of  1300  feet. 

Ventura  Oil  Development  Company.  At  the  same  time  this  com- 
pany was  drilling  tAvo  wells,  No.  1  west  of  the  Nettleton  «&  Kellerman 
wells,  and  No.  2  about  one  half  mile  to  the  northwest,  and  far  up  the 
hill.  At  that  time  they  had  reached  depths  of  700  feet  and  1000  feet, 
respectively,  and  were  not  operating.  In  February,  1912,  No.  1  had 
been  carried  to  1500  feet  without  a  discovery,  and  both  w^ells  were  shut 
down. 

Eureka  Wells. 

South  Pacific  Oil  Company.  These  wells  are  located  about  one  half 
mile  above  the  mouth  of  Eureka  Caiion,  and  are  on  north-dipping  for- 
mation, or  possibly  immediately  in  the  zone  of  crushing.  This  view, 
which  is  based  on  the  close  proximity  to  the  outcrops  of  strata  dipping 
to  the  south,  and  parallel  to  those  in  which  the  Torrey  wells  are  drilled, 
is  borne  out  by  the  great  irregularity  in  depth,  and  the  scattering 
nature  of  the  production. 

The  earlier  wells  Avere  drilled  by  the  Eureka  Oil  Company,  the  lirst 
work  having  been  done  in  about  1893.  No  work  has  now  been  done  for 
many  years,  and,  as  little  pains  have  been  taken  to  keep  these  wells  in 
condition,  they  make  considerable  water,  which,  however,  settles  freely. 
The  records  are  very  scattering,  but  are  here  given,  so  far  as  they  can 
be  had. 

The  first  six  wells  are  all  producers,  the  depths  (at  present)  being: 
No.  1,  180  feet;  No.  2,  725  feet;  No.  3,  600  feet;  No.  4.  250  feet;  No.  5, 
300  feet ;  No.  6,  380  feet.  No.  7  was  abandoned  at  280  feet  on  account 
of  sand  and  water ;  No.  8  for  reasons  not  known  at  470  feet ;  No.  9  at 
600  feet;  No.  10  at  650  feet.  No.  11  was  a  spoiled  hole  at  650  feet. 
No.  12  is  a  producer  at  400  feet,  and  No.  13  at  375  foet.  No.  14  is  aban- 
doned, depth  not  known.  No.  15  is  a  producer  at  300  feet,  and  No.  16 
was  abandoned  at  700  feet  on  account  of  water.  No.  17  is  also  an 
abandoned  hole ;  while  Nos.  18  and  19  are  producers,  depths  not  known. 
No.  20  was  abandoned  on  account  of  lost  tools;  No.  21  is  said  to  have 
been  deeper  than  the  other  wells  and  to  have  had  no  oil,  and  No.  22 
was  also  a  dry  hole,  though  depth  of  none  of  these  is  recorded. 


138  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN"   CALIFORNIA. 

The  three  wells  to  the  south,  Nos.  18,  19,  and  22,  arc  plainly  in  the 
Torrey  formation,  and  would  indicate  that  a  strip  along  the  south  side 
of  this  tract  would  be  productive.  The  total  daily  production  of  this 
lease  is  said  to  approximate  fifty  barrels,  which  is  probably  much  less 
than  its  possible  capacity,  if  the  wells  now  drilled  could  be  put  in 
proper  working  condition.  The  formation  encountered  in  drilling 
these  wells  is  said  to  have  been  much  less  regular  than  is  usually  the 
case  in  this  vicinity,  and  much  water  was  found. 

Ventura  Coast  Oil  Company.  This  company  operated  in  1910  in  a 
branch  canon  south  of  the  river,  and  not  far  from  the  Eureka  wells. 
This  hole  is  said  to  have  been  650  feet  deep,  and  had  had  some  oil,  though 
it  was  abandoned  because  of  water. 

McCray  Bros.  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  said  to  have  drilled 
in  the  first  cafion  east  of  Torrey  Caiion,  and  just  in  the  edge  of  the 
hills,  some  years  since.  This  well  is  reported  to  have  been  a  dry  hole  at 
about  1200  feet.    It  was  located  well  out  on  the  north  dip. 

This  company  also  drilled  three  wells  on  the  south  dip,  west  of  the 
Torrey  Caiion  wells,  on  fractional  section  5,  No  record  can  be  found 
of  the  first  hole;  No.  2  is  said  to  have  been  1200  feet  deep,  and  No.  3 
about  1600  feet,  and  both  entirely  barren.    This  work  was  done  in  1900. 

Tapo  Canon  Wells. 

Tapo  Caiion  wells — Union  Oil  Company — Thos.  B.  Bard — W^arring 
Bros. — F.  E.  Good.  Only  very  scattering  information  can  be  had  as 
to  the  group  of  old  wells  in  the  flat  near  the  mouth  of  Tapo  Canon. 
The  first  well  at  this  location  seems  to  have  been  drilled  by  Thos.  R. 
Bard  in  1882.  Mr.  Bard  is  said  to  have  maintained  a  small  refinery  at 
this  point,  where  asphalt  and  other  products  were  made  from  the  output 
of  this  well.  This  well  is  said  to  have  been  a  little  over  300  feet  deep, 
and  has  been  long  abandoned. 

During  the  next  ten  years  the  property  passed  through  several  hands. 
First,  Warring  Brothers  drilled  three  wells,  later  three  more  were 
drilled  by  Hardison  &  Stewart.  In  1893  the  property  was  absorbed  by 
the  Union  Oil  Company,  who  drilled  four  wells.  Nothing  is  known  as 
to  the  depths  or  the  productions  of  any  of  these  wells,  except  in  a 
very  general  way,  but  they  were  quite  shallow,  and  made  but  a  small 
amount  of  oil. 

Shortly  after  this  the  lease  was  taken  over  by  Islv.  F.  E.  Good,  who 
drilled  seven  wells,  six  of  which  are  now  producing.  These  w^ells  were 
deeper,  averaging  about  1050  feet.  It  is  reported  that  when  the  prop- 
erty was  taken  over  by  Gootl,  tlie  eleven  wells  existent  at  that  time  did 
not  produce  enough  oil  to  run  a  drilling  rig.  The  lease  and  all  the 
wells  werf^  afterward  sold  back  to  the  Union,  and  in  1900  the  six  wells 


MODELO,    TOEEEY,    EUREKA,    AXD   TAPO    WELLS.  139 

then  pumping  were  reported  to  be  making  about  300  barrels  per  month 
in  all.     The  present  output  from  these  old  wells  is  very  small. 

In  1910  the  drilling  rights  on  this  property  were  transferred  to  the 
Camulos  Oil  and  Development  Companj^  the  surface  being  retained  by 
the  Newhall  Land  and  Farming  Company,  and  the  pumping  rights  on 
the  old  wells  by  the  Union  Oil  Company.  The  Camulos  company 
drilled  a  shallow  well,  and  at  the  same  time  subleased  a  portion  of  the 
tract  to  the  Canadian  Queen  Oil  Company  and  to  C.  F.  Grundy,  both 
of  whom  drilled.  The  well  of  the  Great  West  Oil  Company,  now  drill- 
ing, is  on  a  sublease  of  a  portion  of  the  same  tract. 

The  formation  on  which  the  old  wells  are  located  seems  to  dip  to  the 
north  and  a  little  west,  and  the  shallowest  wells  are  therefore  those  to 
the  southeast.  The  depths  of  the  string  from  No.  12  to  No.  16  are  said 
to  show  a  consistent  dip  to  the  northwest,  but  it  is  not  entirely  certain 
whether  these  wells  are  actually  on  the  north  dip,  or  on  broken  ground. 

The  Canadian  Queen  well  went  far  deeper  than  the  deepest  of  the  old 
wells,  and  evidently  drew  its  oil  from  lower  sands.  It  was  expected 
that  the  Grundy  well  would  show  these  sands.  l)ut  at  a  depth  of  1900 
feet  this  hole  was  practically  barren. 

Canadian  Queen  Oil  Company.  On  the  Tapo  Rancho,  northeast  and 
a  short  distance  from  Union  No.  16,  is  the  well  of  the  Canadian  Queen 
Oil  Company  of  Los  Angeles.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1910  to  a  depth 
slightly  in  excess  of  2000  feet.  A  considerable  yield  of  a  light  black 
oil,  quite  different  from  that  of  the  old  wells,  was  had  near  the  bottom 
of  the  hole,  but  an  excessive  amount  of  water,  which  could  not  be  shut 
off,  made  the  operation  of  the  well  quite  difficult.  It  was  not  being 
pumped  at  last  report,  though  it  had  made  at  times  as  high  as  one 
hundred  barrels  per  day,  a  very  unusual  production  for  the  territory. 

Camulos  Oil  and  Development  Company.  In  November,  1910,  this 
company  was  drilling  at  160  feet  near  the  Canadian  Queen  well. 

Grundy  Oil  Company  (not  incorporated) .  A  hole  drilled  by  Mr.  C.  F. 
Grundy  of  Los  Angeles,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  36,  4-18, 
is  usually  credited  to  the  Grundy  Oil  Company  or  the  Pacific  Auto- 
mobile Company.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1911.  was  1900  feet  deep, 
and  found  no  oil.     It  is  abandoned. 

Great  West  Oil  Company.  South  of  the  old  Tapo  wells,  and  in  the 
southwest  qLiarter  of  the  section,  the  Great  West  Oil  Company  is  drill- 
ing. In  February,  1912,  this  well  is  reported  to  ])e  1050  feet  deep,  and 
to  have  found  some  very  light  oil. 

McGuire  Tract.  No  information  can  be  had  as  to  the  two  wells  on 
the  McGuire  tract  in  section  1,  3-18.  They  are  believed  to  be  shallow, 
dry  holes. 


140  PKTPiOLKUM    IX    SOUTIIEIJN    CALTFOltXlA. 

Torrey  Canon  Wells. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Torrey.  On  this  tract  there  are 
fifty-six  wells,  all  but  three  or  four  of  which  are  believed  to  be  pro- 
ducers. The  opinion  of  parties  who  were  originally  concerned  in  the 
development  of  this  tract  is  that  the  limit  has  been  reached  on  the 
north,  and  possibly  on  the  west,  but  not  to  the  south  and  cast.  These 
wells  are  entirely  located  on  the  south  dip,  and  depths  increase  with 
some  rapidity  in  that  direction,  up  to  a  maximum  of  some  2000  feet. 
The  only  record  available  as  to  these  wells  is  of  the  work  done  in  the 
years  1898  and  1899.  This,  however,  while  it  covers  only  a  portion 
of  the  work,  probably  gives  a  fair  idea  of  the  depths  to  which  the  holes 
in  this  group  are  carried. 

No.    1— drilled  in  1896  to  500  feet ;  deepened  in  1899  to  1010  feet. 

No.    5— deepened  in  1898  to  1855  feet,  but  plugged  at  1620  feet. 

No.    6— deepened  in  1898  to  1070  feet. 

No.    7— depth  1600  feet. 

No.    8— deepened  in  1899  from  670  feet  to  ]2o()  f.-.-t.  later  to  1750 
feet. 

No.    9 -depth  1400  feet. 

No.  10— depth  1600  feet. 

No.  11— depth  1600  feet. 

No.  12— depth  1300  feet. 

No.  13— deepened  in  1898  to  1325  feet. 

No.  17— depth  1750  feet. 

No.  22— depth  1110  feet. 

No.  23— depth  724  feet. 

No.  2^^— depth  940  feet. 

No.  25— depth  1260  feet,  deepened  to  1750  feet. 

No.  26— depth  1140  feet. 

No.  27— depth  1455  feet. 

No.  28— depth  1352  feet. 

No.  29— depth  1550  feet. 

No.  30— depth  1570  feet. 

No.  32— depth  1965  feet. 

No.-33— depth  1890  feet. 

No.  34— depth  1450  feet,  bitor  deepened  to  IS-'xi  i'lvt. 

No.  35— depth  1145  feet. 

No.  36— depth  1400  feet. 

No.  39— depth  1400  feet. 

No.  43— depth  2000  feet. 

No.  47— depth  2000  feet. 

No.  49— depth  2000  feet,  dry  hole. 

No.  50— depth  2000  feet,  water  only. 

No.  56 — depth  2500  feet,  water  and  oil,  not  produeiHl. 


Looking   up   Eureka   Canon   Toward    T 


!Of?' 


d 


Torrey  Canon,   Ventura   County. 


MODKLO.    TOUIJKY,    KTKKKA,    AND    TAi'O    WKLLS.  141 

No.  52,  1410  feet,  was  drilled  in  1900. 

In  October,  1899,  all  the  wells  from  No.  1  to  No.  35  were  on  the 
pump,  except  Nos.  9,  11,  and  16. 

Tapo  Oil  Company.  On  the  Tapo  Rancho,  in  section  14,  3-18,  the 
Tapo  Oil  Company  is  reported  to  have  drilled  three  wells  in  1900  and 
1901.  But  one  of  these,  No.  3,  can  now  be  located.  This  is  said  to  have 
been  a  dry  hole  at  700  feet,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  other  two  were 
also  shallow. 
Simi  Wells. 

Scarab  Oil  Company.  This  company  had  two  wells  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  32,  3-18.  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1910,  to  a  depth  somewhat 
exceeding  2700  feet,  and  was  first  reported  as  a  very  large  producer, 
having  layers  of  rather  loose  producing  sand  alternating  with  shale 
for  the  last  four  hundred  feet  or  more.  After  pumping  for  some  months, 
liowever,  this  well  dwindled  considerably,  and  is  now  good  for  probably 
fifty  barrels  of  oil  per  day.  It  is  said  to  be  making  a  great  deal  of 
water,  which  may  account  for  the  diminished  production.  No.  2  on 
thijs  lease  was  not  completed  at  last  reports. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Dickerson.  Near  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  33,  the  Union  Oil  Company 
finished  a  producer  in  1910.  This  well  is  about  1000  feet  deep,  but  pro- 
duces its  oil  from  a  depth  of  about  700  feet,  and  is  reported  to  be  good 
tor  sixty  barrels  steady  production. 

No  analyses  of  either  of  these  oils  is  available,  but  the  oil  is  undoubt- 
edly heavier  than  the  light  oils  characteristic  of  the  hard  formations 
to  the  north.  The  Union  oil  is  reported  at  16°  to  17°  Beaume,  the  Scarab 
production  at  about  20°. 
Township  3-17. 

No  production  is  found  in  this  township,  west  of  the  line  between 
Ventura  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  The  Pico  Cailon  wells,  which  are 
located  in  section  1,  are  on  the  Los  Angeles  side,  and  will  be  considered 
in  connection  with  Newhall.  There  are,  however,  eight  prospect  holes, 
and  one  well  was  drilling  when  last  visited. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Fryer.  The  Union  Oil  Company 
were  rigged  and  just  starting  to  drill  in  the  latter  months  of  1910,  in 
the  Herbert  Fryer  tract,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  8. 

McCray  Bros.  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  two  wells  just 
south  of  the  above  location,  several  years  since.  One  of  these  was  a  dry 
hole,  the  other  obtained  a  very  little  quite  heavy  oil  at  a  depth  of  about 
700  feet.  This  latter  well  is  still  cased,  and  is  said  to  be  pumped  for 
local  fuel  purposes  from  time  to  time.  These  wells  were  drilled  on  a 
brea  bed,  and  apparently  immediately  on  the  outcrop  of  the  Torrey 
sands. 


142  PETROLEUM    ]N    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Simi  Oil  Company.  In  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  30,  in  the 
hills  west  of  Las  Llajas  Canon,  are  five  wells  drilled  by  the  Simi  Oil 
Company  in  the  years  1900  to  1902.  The  record  of  these  wells  is  as 
follows : 

No.  1  was  drilled  to  1242  feet.  No.  2  to  about  1125  feet,  No.  3  to 
about  1400  feet.  No.  4  to  1275  feet,  and  No.  5  to  1725  feet.  All  these 
were  finished  wells,  and  each  had  some  oil,  which  is  said  to  have  been 
about  32°  Beaume.  These  wells  seem  to  have  made  just  enough  oil  to 
encourage  further  operations,  and  the  entire  output  of  the  five  was 
not  sufficient  to  justify  operation  of  the  lease,  though  the  wells  have 
since  been  pumped  from  time  to  time  for  fuel.  The  oil  seems  to  have 
been  of  excellent  quality. 

Pittsburg  Petroleum  Company.  In  1910  the  Simi  Oil  Company  tract 
v/as  leased  to  the  Pittsburg  Petroleum  Company,  who  drilled  a  well 
about  450  feet  deep,  abandoning  with  crooked  hole  and  a  string  of 
tools  lost. 

Ventura  Consolidated  Oil  Company.  In  1911  this  tract  again 
changed  hands,  the  lease  passing  to  the  Ventura  Consolidated  Oil  Com- 
pany. This  company  moved  the  Pittsburg  rig  a  short  distance,  and 
drilled  another  hole,  which  is  now  suspended  at  about  the  same  depth, 
450  feet. 

QUALITY   OF  THE   OILS   OF   PIRU   CARON,   TORREY   AND   TAPO. 

But  a  portion  of  the  various  qualities  of  oil  found  on  the  Rancho 
Temescal  and  in  its  vicinity  are  represented  in  the  following  analyses, 
though  these  cover  all  the  grades  commercially  produced. 

In  Nigger  Canon,  west  of  the  ranch,  the  Nettleton  &  Kellerman  wells 
make  a  small  amount  of  a  very  heavy  black  oil,  said  to  be  about  14° 
Beaume.  Some  of  the  old  Piru  Oil  &  Land  Company  wells  found  an  oil 
ranging  from  18°  to  20°  Beaume.  The  last  well  of  the  Piru  Monarch 
Oil  Company  is  reported  to  have  found  a  small  production  of  an  oil  of 
37°  Beaume,  very  gassy  and  quite  limpid  when  taken  from  the  well,  but 
solidifying  at  about  60°  F.  to  a  pasty  solid  and  evidently  containing  a 
great  deal  of  paraffin. 

The  Modelo  wells  all  produce  one  grade  of  oil,  varying  only  from 
26.5°  to  28.0°  Beaume  in  gravity,  and  all  showing  about  the  same 
analysis.  This  oil  is  black  with  a  very  slight  greenish  cast,  is  not  so 
opaque  as  many  of  the  black  oils,  and  gives  a  uniformly  high  yield  of 
gasoline  and  other  light  products,  and  very  little  asphalt.  The  heavy 
end  of  the  crude  contains  less  paraffin  than  some  of  the  light  oils  from 
the  east  end,  but  is  too  tender  to  be  of  much  value. 

The  Torrey  wells  show  a  wider  range  of  gravity,  running  down  to 
24°  and  up  to  30°  Beaume.     These  oils  are  brownish-black  in  color,  give 


MODELO,    TORRE Y,    EUREKA.    AND   TArO    WELLS.  143 

a  good  yield  of  light  products,  and  rather  more  asphalt  than  the  Modelo 
»>ils.     The  heavy  end  of  these  crudes  has  much  paraffin. 

The  oil  from  the  Eureka  wells  (South  Pacific  Oil  Company),  shows 
fi  wider  range  of  gravity,  though  the  bulk  of  the  output  is  around  26° 
Beaume.  These  oils  tend  to  a  greenish  cast,  and  like  all  the  Ventura 
oils  of  this  color,  run  very  low  in  light  products  for  the  gravity,  and 
also  low  in  asphalt.  The  heavy  end  of  the  crude  appears  to  be  free  from 
paraffin.  The  commercial  difference  between  these  oils  and  the  Modelo 
or  Torrey  oils  is  quite  marked,  as  a  comparison  of  the  analyses  will  show. 

This  distinction  between  the  true  black  or  brownish-black  oils  and  the 
greenish  oils  is  very  marked  in  the  case  of  the  two  qualities  from  the 
Tapo  wells.  Attention  is  called  to  this  difference  in  connection  with 
analysis  No.  5480.  A  comparison  of  these  two  analyses  will  be 
interesting. 

2429.* 
Modelo  Oil  Company.     Tank  Average. 

Gravity 2G.6°  Beaum^ 

This  is  a  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  of  a  sweet  and  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass,  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  weight  corrected  (factor  x  0.8) 
for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are : 

Below  212°   F 0.0  per  cent 

212  to  302° 13.(5  per  cent  59.4°  Beaum6 

302  to  518° 32.4  per  cent  40.8° 

Residue  above  518° 53.8  per  cent  12.4° 

100.0  per  cent 

After  evaporation  of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  the 
figures  above  are  approximately  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaum6  11  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  35  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants 41.8  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  12.2  per  cent  or  42.8  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

•Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 


144 


i'i;tu()LKum   IX  soi'i 


4473.* 

Modelo  Oil  Company.     Well   No.   28. 

Gravity 28.0°   Beaum6 

This  is  a  very  limpid,  black  oil,  with  a  greenish  tinge,  and  mild,  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 
A  sample  of  150  c.c.  was  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in 
a  current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 10.9  per  cent  62.3°  Beaum^ 

Second  cut 8.G  per  cent  52.1° 

Third  cut 17.5  per  cent  42.0° 

Fourth   cut   10.1  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 50.G  per  cent  22.5° 

Fixed   carbon    2.3  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  calculation  of  the  coke  to  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,   and 
reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  the^.e  figures  show  the 
following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline G1.0°  Beaume  13.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  5.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42.0°  20.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  9.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28.3°  17.0  per  cent   i  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.0°  30.2  per  cent   ^22.5° — 47.2% 

Asphalt    _ "D"  5.8  per  cent  or  20.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  crude  treat  out  very  readily,  and  give 
oil  of  good  color  and  odor.  The  lubricating  stock  has  a  low  viscosity, 
but  is  sweet,  and  gives  a  reduced  stock  of  fair  viscosity  and  good  color. 
This  treats  out  to  a  red  oil  of  17.3°,  of  normal  viscosity  and  a  fair  color. 
Paraffin  is  less  in  evidence  than  in  most  of  the  oils  from  this  end  of  thi- 
field,  but  the  value  of  the  crude  is  largely  in  the  light  end. 

7422. t 
Modelo   Oil   Company.      Well    No.   22. 

Gravity 28.4°   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  60°   F ^^—2.28  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°   F ^— 1.23  Redwood 

Flash  ix)int Bolow  00°  F..  Abel-Beu.sky  test 

Distillation. 

200  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  still,  without  steam  ur  gas. 

Below  212°  F ^—     7.7  per  cent  66.6°  Beaume 

212  to  302° 15.6  per  cent  51.3° 

302  to  392° 10.7  per  cent  42.3° 

392  to  482° 10.8  per  cent  34.8° 

482  to  572° 14.0  per  cent  28.6° 

572°  to  grade — a 15.3  per  cent  24.4° 

572"  to  grade— b 8.9  per  cent  32.0° 

Asphalt 16.6  per  cent  Grade  "D"    (about) 

Loss 0.4  per  cent 

100.0  pin-  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
tAnalj'sis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


J[ODELO,    TORREY,    EUREKA,    AND    TAP(»    WELLS.  145 

These  figures  are  closely  equivalent  to  the  following  eommercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  15.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene 42.0°  2(j.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  4.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants-  27.7°  38.0  per  cent    (not   separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  10.0  per  cent 

Loss 0.4  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

The  hardness  of  the  asphalt  is  not  stated  and  the  figure  appears  to 
be  a  shade  high  for  "D"  grade.  The  first  part  of  the  lubricating  stock 
came  over  in  good  shape,  considering  the  method  of  distillation,  but  the 
last  end  broke  very  badly. 

2474.* 
Union   Oil   Company.     Torrey   No.  4. 

Gravity 23.9°  Beaume 

This  was  said,  when  the  sample  was  taken  in  1903,  to  be  the  heaviest  oil  on  the 
lease.     It  is  a  limpid,  blackish  oil,  of  a  sweet  and  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass,  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
X  0.8)   for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are: 

Below  212°   F 1.1  per  cent 

212  to  302° 6.1  per  cent  54.0°  Beaume 

302  to  518° 26.7  per  cent  38.0° 

Residue  above  518° 66.4  per  cent  16.4° 

Loss 1.7  percent 

100.0  i>er  cent 

The  gravity  of  this  residue  was  rather  high,  considering  the  tempera- 
ture at  which  the  run  Avas  ended,  and  indicates  parafiQn  in  the  residue. 
After  evaporation  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  these  figures  are  roughly 
equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  1.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  6.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  20.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil  and  lubricapts 33°  53.0  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  20.0  per  cent  or  70.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 


•Analysis  by  E.  X.  Moor. 


11—63 


]4()  I'KTUOLKUM    IX    S()l"llli;i!\    CA  1.1  I'O  I!  M  \ . 

247C.» 
Union   Oil   Company.      Torrey   No.   28. 

Gravity 28.1°   Beauin«i 

This  is  a  very  limpid  black  oil,  of  a  sweet  and  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass,  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
X  0.8)  for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are: 

Below  212°   F 2.2  per  cent 

212  to  302° 14.4  per  cent  53.7°  Beaume 

302  to  518° 23.6  per  cent  39.8° 

Residue  above  518° 56.7  per  cent  16.4° 

Loss 3.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

After  evaporation  of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  and  i-alcnlation,  the  above 
figures  are  approximately  equal  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  2.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  14.0  per  cent 

Kerosene  _J 42°  21.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  25.0  per  cent 

Stove  distillate  and  lubricants- _-  20.0  per  cent    (not   separated) 

Asphalt "D"  17.5  per  cent  or  61.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

7421. t 
Union   Oil  Company.     Torrey   No.  52. 

Gravity 29.9°  Beaume 

Viscosity  at  60°  F 3.73  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 1.38  Redwood 

Flash  point Below  60°  F.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

Sulfur 0.71  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value '. 19,100  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  still,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°   F 8.3  per  cent  68.7°  Beaume 

212  to  302° 10.4  per  cent  52.4° 

302  to  392° 9.1  per  cent  44.3° 

392  to  482° 8.8  per  cent  38.3° 

482  to  572° 10.2  per  cent  32.6° 

572°    to   grade— a 23.9  per  cent  30.2° 

572°    to   grade— b 9.8  per  cent  31.4° 

Asphalt  _— 16.6 per  cent  Grade  "D"   (about) 

Loss 2.9  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 
tAnalysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


MODELO,    TOKREY,    EUREKA.    AND    TAl'O    WELLS.  147 

These  fignirfs  are  elosely  equivalent  to  the  t'()lh)\ving  eommercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  17.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  14.8  per  cent 

Stove  oil   33.0°  14.6  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants-  30.5°  .jl.l  percent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  16.6  per  cent 

Loss 2.9  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

The  entire  lack  of  engine  distillate  is  due  to  the  high  gravity  at  which 
the  gasoline  starts,  causing  this  fraction  to  overrun  what  would  other- 
Avise  be  the  52''  cut.  This  fraction  could,  of  course,  b*:^  made  by  different 
cutting. 

5411.* 
South   Pacific  Oil   Company.     Eureka   No.   18. 

Gravity 19.8°  Beaume 

This  is  a  brownish-hlack  and  fairly  limpid  oil.  \vith  an  unusually  flat  and  rather 
sour  odor. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c.  was  distilled  from  copper,  tirst  two  cuts  dry.  last  cut  in 
a  current  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First   cut 17.7  per  cent  42.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 20.0  per  cent  32.9° 

Third  cut 54.0  per  cent  23.9° 

Fixed  carbon 5.7  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  ''D"'  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  and 
the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas.  The  above  figures  are  then 
equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  17.7  per  cent 

Stove  oil   33.0°  20.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.8°  21.8  per  cent   /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 17.5°  23.7  per  cent  \  23.9° — 45.5% 

Asphalt    "D"  14.2  per  cent  or  50.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  kerosene  did  not  take  the  acid  well,  giving  a  yellowish  oil,  though 
of  sweet  odor.  The  lubricating  stock  was  badly  burned,  of  a  black  color 
and  low  \dscosity.  On  reduction  this  gave  a  medium  viscosity  reduced 
stock,  which  treated  out  to  a  low  viscosity  red  oil  of  fine  color.  This 
well  had  not  pumped  for  some  time,  but  was  flowii^g  slowly,  and  it  is 

•Analysis  by  T.  W.  I>. 


148  PETROLEUM    INT    SOUTUEKN    CAL[R)KiSiIA. 

possible  that  the  oil  is  somewhat  debased.     The  heavy  end  of  the  oil 
seems  to  be  tender,  but  is  free  from  paraffi:;. 

4489.* 
South   Pacific  Oil   Company.     Eureka  Wells,   northeast  end  of  lease. 

Gravity 25.G°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  very  limpid,  brov?nish-black  oil,  with  a  sweet  and  rather  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  140  c.c.  was  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut 
in  a  current  of  gas.     Distilled  to  dryness. 

First  cut 5.8  per  cent  52.4°  Beaume 

Second  cut 17.2  per  cent  42.7° 

Third  cut 14.2  per  cent  33.8° 

Fourth  cut 57.7  per  cent  23.9° 

Fixed   carbon   5.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  and 

the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas.  This  gives  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis: 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  CO  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  18.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil   33.0°  13.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 31.0°  20.G  per  cent  i  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 17.7°  29.6  per  cent  \  23.9°— 50.2% 

Asphalt    "D"  12.8  per  cent  or  44.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  fron)  this  crude  were  rather  dark,  but  treated  out 
to  good  colors  and  odors.  The  lubricating  stock  also  ran  dark,  with  a 
strong  odor,  but  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  normal  characteristics.  This, 
with  the  test  acid,  gave  a  red  oil  of  20.2°  Beaume,  rather  dark,  but  with 
a  fine  green  over  tone,  and  a  high  viscosity,  cold  test  about  50°  F.  This 
stock  contains  less  paraffin  than  most  of  the  oils  from  this  end  of  the 
county,  and  in  spite  of  an  abnormally  low  yield  ol!  light  products  for 
an  oil  of  this  gravity,  refines  verj^  well. 


•Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


MonKi.o.   rointEY,  eureka,  and  tapo  wells.  149 

5412.* 
South  Pacific  Oil  Company.     Eureka  Wells,     (Mixture  of  three.) 

Gravity 20.2°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  very  limpid,  brovpnish-black  oil,  with  a  gassy  and  rather  sharp  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  cc,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 0.5  per  cent  57.1°  Beaum6 

Second  cut (5.0  per  cent  50.5° 

Third  cut 10.3  per  cent  41.8° 

Fourth  cut 24.0  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 4(5.8  per  cent  21.1° 

Fixed  carbon 5.5  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  and 
the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  inert  gas,  giving  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis: 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaum6  2.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  10.0  per  cent 

Kerosene    42.0°  10.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil   83.0°  24.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants-  21.1°  38.8  per  cent    (not  separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  13.8  per  cent  or  48.4  lbs.  per  bbL 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  took  the  acid  only  fairly  well,  coming 
out  with  sweet  odors,  but  in  fair  colors  only.  The  lubricating  stock  was 
not  fractionated.  It  appeared  to  be  free  from  parafiin,  but  rather  light 
and  somewhat  burned. 

2477.* 

South   Pacific  Oil   Company.     Lease  Average. 

Gravity 27.4°  Beaum§ 

This  is  a  limpid,  brownish  oil,  of  a  sweet  and  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass,  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
X  0.8)   for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are: 

Below  212°   F 5.0  per  cent 

212  to  302° 14.4  per  cent  50.2°  Beaum^ 

302  to  518° 2(5.1  per  cent  40.1° 

Residue  above  518° 54.0  per  cent  12.1= 

Loss    0.5  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 


•Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 
•Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 


150  PETKOLEUM    IN'    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

After  ovaporatiou  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  these  figures  are 
approximately  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    . 61°  Beaum6  G.O  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  13.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  24.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil  -^ 33°  23.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants 23.1  per  cent    (not   separated) 

Asphalt "D"  18.4  per  cent  or  G4.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

4481.* 
Union   Oil    Company.     Tape,   average   six   wells. 

Gravity 21.8°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  very  black  color,  with  a  penetrating  and  gassy  smell. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.7  per  cent  59.3°  Beaume 

Second  cut 6.1  per  cent  51.5° 

Third  cut 11.4  per  cent  42.4° 

Fourth  cut 13.7  per  cent  32.9° 

Fifth  cut 54.0  per  cent  24.1° 

Fixed   carbon   9.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  carbon  was  calculated  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  and 
the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline . 61.0°  Beaume  3.5  i>er  cent 

Engine  distillate 52.0°  9.5  per  cent 

Kerosene   42.0°  10.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33.0°  13.7  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.7°  23.5  per  cent  (  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.5°  17.0per  cent  (,  24.1°— 40.5% 

Asphalt    ,  "D"  22.8  per  cent  or  80  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  run  very  high  for  an  oil  of  this 
gravity,  and  treat  out  readily.  The  heavy  end  of  the  oil  is  of  little 
value,  because  of  an  excess  of  paraffin. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


MODKJ.O.     TORRE Y.    EUREKA,    AND    TA  PO    WELLS.  151 

5480.* 
Canadian    Queen   Oil   Company.     Tapo   No.    1. 

Gravity 21.8°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  a  greenish-black  color,  and  much  less  opaque 
than  No.  44S1.     The  odor  is  flat  and  unpleasant. 

This  well  was  drilled  in  the  midst  of  the  group  of  wells  from  which  No.  4481  was 
laken,  but  draws  its  oil  from  a  deeper  sand.  The  contrast  between  these  two 
analyses,  of  oil  of  exactly  the  same  gravity,  is  very  striking,  as  these  two  samples 
represent  almost  the  extremes  of  quality. 

Disf  illation. 

A  sample   of   loO  c.c.   was  distilled  from  copper,   in  a  stream   of  inert  gas, 
distillation  being  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut   9.7  per  cent  33.0°  Beaume 

Second    cut    83.4  per  cent  21.8° 

Fixed   carbon    6.9  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

Ou  reduction  of  the  second  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  had: 

Gasoline 61.0°  Beaume  None 

Elngine  distillate 52.0°  None 

Kerosene    42.0°  None 

Stove  oil   33.0°  9.7  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.1°  26.3  per  cent  (  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.2°  46.7  per  cent  {  21.8°— 73.0% 

Asphalt    "D"  17.3  per  cent  or  70.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  stove  oil  had  an  amber  color  and  a  very  rank  odor,  neither  of 
which  were  much  improved  by  treatment.  The  lubricating  stock  was 
mild,  and  of  medium  viscosity,  and  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  moderate 
viscosity  and  dull  color,  tending  to  brownish.  This  oil  is  a  satisfactory 
lubricating  stock,  showing  no  paraffin,  and  would  handle  fairly  well  in 
large  scale  distillation  and  treatment.  The  entire  absence  of  light 
products  is  surprising,  as  the  crude  had  not  been  weathered.  This  oil 
is  verv  similar  to  some  of  the  greenish  oils  uf  the  Ex-Mission. 


►Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


152  PKTltOLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


CALLEGUAS  WELLS. 

Township  2-20. 

But  one  group  of  wells  is  found  in  this  township,  and  no  prospecting 
outside  of  this  group  has  ever  been  done.  This  group  is  located  on 
Rancho  Calleguas,  in  section  28,  some  two  and  one  half  miles  south  of 
the  town  of  Camarillo. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Calleguas — Dolton  &  Perkins. 
The  original  wells  in  this  location,  thirty-four  in  all,  were  drilled  by  the 
Union  Oil  Company  in  the  years  1898  and  1899.  They  were  put  dowTi 
with  a  star  rig,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  a  seepage,  and  with  two 
exceptions  were  very  shallow. 

No.  1,  a  test  well  located  near  the  center  of  the  group,  encountered 
the  sand  at  60  feet  and  passed  out  of  it  at  80  feet.  At  120  feet  water 
was  found — this  was  cased  off,  and  the  well  carried  to  1300  feet  without 
finding  either  water  or  oil. 

No.  2  was  583  feet  deep — its  history  is  not  Imown. 

Nos.  3  to  20,  inclusive,  were  drilled  in  the  year  ending  October  1. 

1898.  The  aggregate  depth  of  these  wells  was  2457  feet,  or  an  average 
of  137  feet  per  well. 

Nos.  21  to  34,  inclusive,  were  drilled  in  the  year  ending  October  1, 

1899.  The  aggregate  depth  of  these  fourteen  wells  was  2275  feet,  or  an 
average  of  163  feet  per  well. 

In  spite  of  the  slight  depth  of  these  holes,  and  the  thin  layer  of  sand 
from  which  they  produced,  these  holes  were  rated  as  good  producers  for 
a  time,  and  a  pipe  line  was  laid  to  the  railroad.  A  short  period,  how- 
ever, saw  them  practically  exhausted,  and  the  lease  was  stripped  and 
abandoned  in  June,  1899. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1910,  this  lease  was  again  worked  by  Dolton  & 
Perkins  of  Santa  Barbara,  a  partnership,  who  cleaned  out  a  number  of 
the  old  holes,  and  at  last  reports  had  drilled  six  new  shallow  ones,  and 
had  twenty-seven  in  all  on  the  pump.  At  that  time  the  entire  group 
was  considered  to  be  good  for  a  daily  production  somewhat  in  excess  of 
twenty  barrels. 


SUMMARY    OF    OPERATIONS    IX    VKXTTTRA    COUNTY.  153 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SUMMARY  OF  OPERATIONS  IN  VENTURA  COUNTY. 

This  completes  the  list  of  operations  in  Ventura  County,  so  far  as 
the  records  of  the  Mining  Bureau  extend,  and,  with  the  possible  excep- 
tion of  a  few  of  the  older  abandoned  wells,  is  believed  to  be  a  complete 
resume  of  developments  in  this  county  to  the  end  of  1911.  Taking  the 
record  as  a  whole,  some  interesting  and  valuable  conclusions  may  be 
drawn. 

Since  1865,  when  the  first  known  wells  were  drilled  on  the  Ex-Mission 
grant,  682  wells  have  been  drilled  within  the  limits  of  this  county, 
almost  all  of  these  in  the  valley  of  the  Santa  Clara  River,  or  rather  in 
the  hills  immediately  adjacent.    These  wells  may  be  divided  as  foUows: 
9  wells  are  commercial  producers  of  gas. 
122  wells  were  abandoned  without  discovering  any  oil. 
42  found  some  oil,  but  not  in  profitable  quantity. 
139  were  abandoned  for  reasons  not  now  discoverable. 
87  were  produced  for  a  time,  and  abandoned  as  exhausted  or 

unprofitable,  or  because  of  accident  to  the  hole. 
52  are  now  on  the  pump,  producing  oil  which  may  be  classed  as 

fuel — the  dividing  line  being  taken  at  18°  Beaume. 
231  are  producing  oil  of  refining  value,  which  brings  a  price 
above  that  obtainable  for  fuel  oil. 
50  wells  now  drilling   (December,  1910)    are  not  included  in 
the  above  total. 

The  production  of  the  county  for  the  year  1910  was  492,147  barrels, 
having  an  estimated  value  of  $319,898.  Taking  the  above  total  for 
number  of  producing  wells,  the  output  per  well  was  1740  barrels  per 
annum,  or  4  8/10  barrels  per  day,  with  an  average  value  for  the  year 
of  $1130,  or  almost  exactly  65  cents  per  barrel. 

There  is  some  reason  to  think  that  this  average  output  in  barrels  is 
correct  for  both  light  oil  and  heavy  oil  production,  as  while  there  is  a 
great  difference  between  individual  wells  in  daily  output,  it  is  probable 
that  the  average  production  per  well  in  each  class  is  about  the  same. 
But  when  we  figure  on  the  value  of  this  output,  the  price  of  refining  oil 
is  so  much  higher  than  that  of  fuel  that  the  light  oil  wells  are,  as  a 
rule,  much  better  producers  in  point  of  value.  It  will  not  be  far  from 
the  mark  to  take  the  average  annual  product  per  well  for  the  county  at  a 
value  of  $1210  for  light  oil  production,  and  of  $780  for  heavy  oil  pro- 
duction, equivalent  to  prices  of  70  cents  and  45  cents  per  barrel  for 
the  two  grades. 


154  riM'Koi.Ki '^r  ix  sori'iiKux  cai.ii'ornia. 

The  mainteuauee  charge  ou  most  of  the  wells  in  this  county  is  very 
small,  due  both  to  their  slight  depth  and  to  the  firmness  of  the  forma- 
tion penetrated  and  from  which  the  oil  is  drawn.  With  but  few  excep- 
tions, running  sands  are  unknown,  water  troubles  are  the  exception 
rather  than  the  rule,  and  emulsified  oil  is  not  found.  While,  of  course, 
it  is  impossible  to  fix  on  any  operating  cost  which  will  represent  the 
facts  as  regards  all  leases,  it  is  probable  that  the  actual  cost  of  producing 
the  average  Ventura  County  well  is  not  over  $400  per  annum. 

The  most  apparent  fact  regarding  this  territory,  and  one  which  can 
not  be  denied,  is  that  it  is  extremely  patchy,  there  being  no  large  pro- 
ducing areas  whatever.  As  already  stated,  this  is  due  to  the  excessive 
folding  and  fracturing  of  all  the  formations  from  which  oil  is  here 
drawn,  and  seems  to  apply  to  the  entire  county,  with  the  possible  excep- 
tion of  the  Simi  Valley.  As  this  latter  area  is  almost  entirely  untested, 
it  may  be  found  that  like  conditions  obtain  here  also,  but  the  geological 
indications  are  such  that  there  is  at  least  a  chance  for  the  development 
of  more  extended  producing  areas.    This,  however,  remains  to  be  seen. 

This  uncertainty  makes  prospecting  extremely  hazardous,  as  witness 
the  very  large  percentage  of  failures.  The  development  of  the  county 
has  also  been  greatly  retarded  by  the  extreme  roughness  and  inaccessi- 
bility of  most  of  the  possible  territory.  On  the  other  hand,  the  oils 
developed  are  largely  of  such  quality  as  find  a  ready  sale  at  a  good 
price,  thus  eliminating  one  very  considerable  hazard,  and  as  there  are 
everywhere  exposures  from  which  at  least  some  deductions  can  be 
drawn,  and  as  the  usual  high  dip  of  the  formation  makes  it  possible  to 
prospect  with  shallow  holes,  this  territory  has  always  been  the  favorite 
ground  of  small  operators.  This  result  has  also  been  favored  by  the 
character  of  land  titles,  all  land  lying  north  of  the  fiodr  of  the  valley 
being  originally  government  land,  large  holdings  being  restricted  to 
those  of  the  Union  and,  later,  the  Scarab  Oil  Company.  Wliile  it  would 
be  difficult,  at  the  present  time,  to  accumulate  any  large  holdings  in  this 
county,  small  leases,  both  developed  and  prospective,  may  always  be  had 
at  a  fair  price. 

The  development  of  the  county  as  an  oil  producer  has  been  greatly 
hindered  by  the  exclusive  ownership  of  large  acreages  of  the  choicest 
territory  by  the  two  companies  mentioned  above,  and  it  is  highly  prob- 
able that  so  long  as  they  hold  to  a  policy  of  neither  developing  nor 
leasing,  the  annual  output  of  the  county  w^ill  not  be  very  greatly 
increased.  The  area  of  prospective  undeveloped  territory  held  by  these 
two  companies  must  be  at  least  equal  to  the  area  of  all  the  territory  now 
developed,  or  which  could  be  classed  as  reasonably  favorable,  in  the 
hands  of  other  parties.  Nevertheless,  very  considerable  areas  yet  remain 
untested  or  only  partly  prospected,  and  while  there  is  little  reason  to 


SUMMARY    OF    OPERATIONS    IX    VENTURA    COUNTY.  155 

look  for  anything  sensational  in  the  way  of  new  development  nor  for 
any  sudden  increase  in  the  output  of  the  county,  yet.  when  we  consider 
the  remarkably  permanent  character  of  such  production  as  is  gained, 
it  is  highly  probable  that  the  output  of  the  county  will  show  a  steady 
growth  for  many  years  to  come,  and  that  the  present  producing  areas 
will  be  very  materially  increased,  both  by  new  discoveries  and  by 
extensions. 

A  count  of  the  wells  in  Ventura  County,  made  in  IMaroh.  1912.  gives 
the  following  figures : 

Wells  producing  gas  in  commercial  quantities 1         9 

Wells  i^roducing  oil  above  IS'  Beaume 283 

Wells  producing  oil  below  IS"  Beaume 39 

Dry  holes,  abandoned 130 

Wells  showing  some  oil,  abandoned 64 

Exhausted  producers,  abandoned  _ 81 

Wells  abandoned  for  unknown  reasons 101 

Wells  capable  of  production,  suspended 9 

Drilling  wells  suspended 10 

Wells  now  drilling.  March  1,  1912 37 

'    Total  number  of  wells  in  county 763 

There  are  also  some  abandoned  holes,  drilled  at  very  early  dates,  of 
which  no  clear  record  now  remains.  The  number  of  these  is  estimated 
at  from  twenty  to  thirty.  Only  the  wells  described  in  the  text  are 
included  in  this  li.st. 


156  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER  X. 

LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY. 

The  county  of  Los  Angeles  contains  within  its  area  three  producing 
oil  districts,  as  follows : 

The  Newhall  tield,  of  which  Castaic,  Pico  Caiion,  Elsmere  Caiion, 
Placerita  and  Tujunga  are  subdivisions.  This  field  is  an  extension  of 
the  Ventura  County  deposits,  and  extends  up  both  sides  of  the  Santa 
Clara  Valley  from  the  county  line  to  the  town  of  Newhall,  with  exten- 
sions to  the  east  into  Elsmere  and  Placerita  caiions,  and,  with  a  slight 
break,  to  the  southeast  into  Tujunga  Canon. 

The  Los  Angeles  field,  comprising  the  "City  Field"  and  Salt  Lake  or 
Sherman.  The  eastern  end  of  these  fields  is  located  in  the  northern 
portion  of  the  city  of  Los  Angeles,  and  the  producing  strip  extends 
therefrom  almost  to  the  ocean,  in  a  southwesterly  direction. 

The  Puente  Hills  district,  variously  divided,  but  covering  the  better 
known  Whittier,  Puente,  La  Habra,  Coyote,  Olinda,  Brea  Cafion,  and 
Pullerton  fields.  The  Puente  Hills  district  commences  at  the  town  of 
"Whittier,  some  twelve  miles  southeast  of  Los  Angeles  City,  and  extends 
therefrom,  in  a  generally  easterly  direction,  across  the  county  line. 
Fullerton  is  entirely  in  Orange  County,  but  is  so  closely  connected  with 
the  Wliittier  and  Puente  deposits,  both  geologically  and  commercially, 
that  it  is  here  considered  as  a  whole  in  connection  with  Los  Angeles 
County. 

Outside  of  these  producing  districts,  oil  has  been  sought  at  a  number 
of  points  in  and  around  Los  Angeles  County,  but  without  success  to  the 
present  time.  These  locations  are:  At  Lancaster  and  Mojave,  in  the 
northern  portion  of  the  county ;  in  the  Santa  Monica  mountains,  west  of 
the  city,  and  south  of  the  Ventura-Newhall  district;  north  and  south 
of  the  Los  Angeles  City  field,  and  between  the  wells  of  the  city  tier;  at 
Redondo,  Manhattan,  and  San  Pedro,  on  the  coast  south  of  the  city  of 
Los  Angeles,  and  at  New^port,  on  the  coast  of  Orange  County. 

In  the  following  pages  these  fields  will  be  found  described  in  the  order 
given,  under  appropriate  chapter  headings. 

NEWHALL  FIELD. 

The  Newhall  oil  field  is,  commercially,  an  extension  to  the  eastward 
of  the  deposits  found  on  both  sides  of  the  Santa  Clara  Valley  in 
Ventura  County.  While  there  may  be  some  slight  geological  division 
between  the  Tapo  wells  and  those  of  Pico,  on  the  south  side  of  the  valley, 
no  such  separation  is  apparent  on  the  north  side,  and  thus  the  division  at 
the  county  line  is  purely  an  arbitrary  one. 


LOS    AXGELES    COUNTTY  157 

The  Pico  field,  or  Newhall  proper,  commences  at  the  county  line,  in 
to^Tiship  3-17,  and  extends  to  and  across  township  3-16,  covering  the 
wells  in  Pico,  Towsley,  Wiley,  Rice  and  East  caiions,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river. 

North  of  the  river,  some  prospecting  has  been  done  in  to^^^lship  4^17, 
but  without  result  in  the  way  of  production,  and  has  never  been  carried 
into  township  4-16. 

The  Castaic  group  of  four  wells  is  located  en  the  west  line  of  town- 
ship 5-16,  at  the  junction  of  Elizabeth  and  Castaic  creeks. 

The  Elsmere  group  of  wells,  and  the  prospect  holes  of  Placerita 
Caiion,  are  found  in  to^Miship  3-15  and  along  the  east  line  of  township 
3-16,  which  forces  us  to  consider  these  townships  as  a  imit. 

The  Tujunga  group  of  prospect  holes,  none  of  which  are  productive, 
is  found  in  to^vnships  3-14  and  3-13,  the  wells  lying  in  Pacoima,  and  in 
Little  and  Big  Tujunga  canons. 

This  entire  territory,  covering  an  irregular  strip  with  a  length  of  over 
twenty  miles,  and  a  width  of  three  or  four  miles,  is  of  great  similarity 
throughout  as  regards  topography.  In  many  ways  it  is  similar  to  the 
southern  portion  of  Ventura  Coimty,  but  is  even  more  rugged,  the  Pico 
Canon  country  in  particular  being  actually  mountainous.  It  is  a  bar- 
ren, waterless  r-ountry,  in  parts  bare,  in  parts  covered  with  low  but 
dense  brush,  and  excepting  the  small  areas  of  river  and  creek  bottom, 
has  a  soil  composed  largely  of  sandstone  and  shale  detritus,  barren  and 
unfruitful.  The  climate,  as  might  be  expected,  is  hot  and  dry,  with 
comparatively  small  rainfall,  and  that  occurriug  exclusively  in  winter. 

This  country  is  served  by  one  railroad  running  approximately  parallel 
to  its  length,  but  even  with  this,  it  suffers  somewhat  from  lack  of  trans- 
portation facilities.  Parts  of  the  Xewhall  field  are  too  rough  to  be 
reached  by  roads,  others  are  accessible  only  by  means  of  long  and  heavy 
grades.  Ca.staic  has  a  good  road  up  the  valley  of  Castaic  Creek;  Els- 
mere lies  adjacent  to  the  railroad,  and  Placerita  Caiion  has  a  fairly  level 
but  very  soft  road.  Tujunga  caiion  proper  is  reached  by  a  fair  road 
from  the  town  of  Fernando,  but  the  more  northern  prospects  in  this 
region  had  to  build  roads  through  very  rough  hills  at  considerable 
expense. 

Geologically  this  country  greatly  resembles  the  territory  north  of 
Santa  Clara  River,  consisting  largeh'  of  hard  sandstones  and  shales,  the 
former  predominating,  and  being  characterized  by  excessive  folding  and 
fracturing.  The  same  causes  have  brought  about  like  results  in  these 
two  fields,  the  oils  produced  being  of  very  diverse  qualities,  and  found 
only  in  small  pools,  production  of  single  wells  being  rather  small,  but 
usually  long  lived. 

The  well  records  hereafter  presented  for  this  field  are  less  complete 
than  could  be  desired,  great  difficulty  being  experienced,  in  the  sparsely 


158  PETROLEUM    I\t^    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

settled  western  end,  in  getting  any  data  whatever  about  some  of  the 
older  wells.  In  this  end  of  the  field,  also,  an  unusual  and  incomprehen- 
sible secrecy  seems  to  be  the  rule,  which  was  not  the  case  in  the  eastern 
end  of  the  field,  where  the  fullest  information  was,  in  almost  every  case, 
freely  given. 

Wells  in  Township  4-17. 

But  three  wells  have  been  drilled  in  this  township,  so  far  as  can  be 
learned.  In  this  connection  the  records  of  the  Temescal  wf^lls  should  he 
examined,  these  lying  on  the  same  general  formation. 

East  Piru  Oil  Company.  This  company  was  drilling,  m  the  year 
1900,  just  north  of  Leckler  Canon,  near  the  center  of  section  6.  The 
results  of  this  work  are  not  kncwn. 

^■Eina  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  two  wells  (m  the  southeast 
quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  8,  drilled  about  1901.  Well 
No.  1  Avas  845  feet  deep,  and  was  abandoned  because  of  collapsed 
casing,  with  a  good  showing  of  oil  in  the  hole.  No.  2,  however,  a  little: 
to  the  southeast,  was  carried  to  960  feet  without  finding  tht^  sand,  and 
was  abandoned  as  a  dry  hole.  ; 

Wells  in  Townships  5-17  and  5-16. 

Castaic  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  drilled  on  the  north  side  of 
Palomas  Canon,  on  the  east  line  of  section  23,  5-17,  in  the  year  1901. 
It  is  reported  to  have  been  approximately  1000  feet  deep,  and  had  a 
twenty-foot  streak  of  dry  asphalt  at  600  feet.  This  hole  is  said  to  have 
been  drilled  without  casing. 

Castaic  Oil  Association.  This  company  drilled  a  well  on  the  east  side 
of  Castaic  Caiion,  just  below  the  entrance  of  Elizabeth  Caiion,  and  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  18,  5-16,  in  the  year  1899.  The  depth 
of  this  hole  was  slightly  in  excess  of  1400  feet ;  no  oil  Avas  found,  but 
considerable  gas. 

Rose  Oil  Company.  In  1904  this  company  drilled  a  well  just  to  the 
south  of  the  foregoing,  carrying  it  to  a  depth  of  1700  feet,  and  aban- 
doning it  owing  to  mechanical  difficulties.  This  hole  developed  some 
high-gravity  oil,  which  is  now  flowing  from  the  casini:  head. 

New  Casto/ic  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  been  drilling  for  many 
months  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  19  in  5-16.  In  February, 
1912,  this  hole  was  reported  to  be  down  2500  feet  and  diilling.  with  a 
strong  showing  of  gas  and  some  indications  of  oil. 

A  small  but  very  perfect  and  well-marked  anticlinal  fold  shows  on 
both  sides  of  Castaic  Creek  at  this  point,  and  reapi)eai's  in  Charley 
Canon,  about  a  mile  to  the  east.  The  Rose  well  appears  to  have  been 
almost  exactly  on  the  axis  of  this  fold — -the  New  Castaic  well  is  some 
distance  out  on  the  south  limb,  which  at  the  surface,  at  least,  has  a 
sharp  dip. 


Looking    up    Castaic    Canon    from    above    New    Castaic    Location. 


Anticlinal   Fold  in   Charley  Canon,   Los  Angeles  County.     This  Fold  Reappears  Two 
Miles   Distant  in   Castaic   Caiion. 


LOS  ANGELES   COUNTY.  ]  5f) 

Wells  in  Pico  Canon. 

The  operations  of  Pico  Canon  were  among  the  earliest  successful 
attempts  to  produce  oil  in  California.  As  early  as  1850  Andreas  Pico 
had  been  collecting  seepage  oil,  which  he  distilled  with  a  copper  still  and 
Avorm,  making  burning  oil  for  the  San  Fernando  Mission,  and  in  later 
years  oil  so  collected  was  shipped  by  w^agon  to  Polhemus  refinery  at 
Los  Angeles,  and  even  to  the  Metropolitan  Gas  Works  at  San  Francisco. 
It  is  recorded  that  on  January  28,  1867,  twelve  barrels  of  oil  were 
shipped  from  Pico  Canon,  and  in  1874  the  output  is  said  to  have  been  as 
high  as  ten  barrels  per  day,  this  being  entirely  seepage  oil. 

A  well  is  said  to  have  been  drilled  in  this  canon,  by  the  old  spring-pole 
method,  as  early  as  1869.  This  well  found  an  encouraging  amount  of 
oil  (it  is  hardly  likely  that  the  original  statement  that  this  was  a 
''flowing  well"  is  literally  true),  but  the  hole  was  spoiled  at  a  depth  of 
140  feet. 

The  first  producing  well  at  this  location  was  drilled  by  the  California 
Star  Oil  Company,  of  Los  Angeles,  on  the  Pico  claim,  in  1875.  In 
September,  1879,  the  Pacific  Coast  Oil  Company  was  incorporated,  and 
commenced  drilling  on  the  Menlo  claim,  just  east  of  the  Pico,  shortly 
extending  its  operations  to  the  Belmost  claim,  still  farther  east.  This 
company  soon  afterward  absorbed  the  Star  company,  but  the  numbering 
of  the  wells  appears  to  have  been  kept  separate  at  all  times. 

In  1882  or  1883  the  Hardison  &  Stewart  Oil  Company  leased  what 
was  known  as  the  Hill  tract,  not  now  definitely  bounded,  but  located 
generally  south  and  east  of  the  wells  then  existing.  On  this  tract  they 
drilled  three  wells,  two  of  which  were  dry,  the  third  a  small  producer, 
but  soon  ruined  by  water.  This  company  also  drilled  Star  No.  1  in  Pico 
Canon,  and  two  or  three  wells  in  DeWitt  Canon. 

The  rate  at  which  developments  proceeded  in  Pico  Canon  will  be 
shown  by  the  tabular  list  of  the  older  wells,  as  below.  In  the  year  1902 
the  entire  property  of  the  Pacific  Coast  Oil  Company,  covering  perhaps 
half  the  total  area  of  the  entire  Newhall  field,  passed  to  the  Standard  Oil 
Company  of  California. 

Well  Records.  The  total  number  of  wells  in  the  Pico  Caiion  group,  so 
far  as  can  now  be  determined,  is  seventy-eight,  of  which  one  is  on  Rancho 
Simi ;  thirty-six  are  on  the  Pico  claim ;  eighteen  on  the  Menlo  claim,  and 
twenty-three  on  the  Belmont  claim.  Of  the  seventy-eight,  forty-three 
were  producing  in  Januarj^  1911,  two  were  drilling,  and  thirty-three 
had  been  abandoned  for  various  reasons.  Of  wells  later  than  No.  19  on 
the  Pico,  and  No.  20  on  the  Menlo  and  Belmont  claims  (these  latter 
being  numbered  together),  almost  nothing  is  known.  On  the  contrary, 
the  records  of  the  earlier  wells  are  so  unusually  complete  and  entirely 
authentic  that  they  are  here  given  in  detail.     It  is  believed  that  a  care- 


160 


PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CaLIFORXIA. 


RANCHO    SANFRANCISCO 


FIGURE    E1 

PICO  CANON  WELLS 


PRODUCING 
EXHAUSTED 
LOST  HOLES.  OIL 
■^BA.N  DOMED,  DRY 


ful  study  of  these  notes  will  throw  some  light  on  conditions  prevailing  in 
Pico,  and  by  analogy  on  conditions  at  other  points  along  the  so-called 
''Pico  anticline." 

The  numbering  of  these  w^ells  is  somewhat  complicated,  as  various 
series  of  numbers  have  been  started  at  different  times,  and  later  merged 
in  other  series.  Fortunately,  however,  with  but  one  exception,  no  two 
wells  having  the  same  number  have  been  located  in  any  one  claim,  and 
the  claim  name  and  the  present  series  number  are,  therefore,  in  all 
cases,  sufficient  identification.  In  the  following  table  both  the  present 
number  and  the  older  number,  if  any,  are  given  : 


Tabular   List  of  Pico  Canon   Wells. 
Fi'om  original  records. 


Present  number. 

Claim.                   Old  number. 

Year. 

Depth 

Uemarks. 

Starl 

Pico     -      .    i.  . 

1S83 
1875 
1S75 

1650 
700 
900 

DriUed  by  Hardison  &  Stewart. 
30  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still 
producing. 

5  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still  pro- 
ducing. Drew  its  oil  from  close  to 
surface.    Craig  says  in  "break." 

5  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still  pro- 
ducing. Got  oil  both  farther  up 
and  farther  down  than  No.  1. 

Not  accounted  for  in  i«.S7. 

Eicol 

Pico     - 

Pico  2 

Pico 

Pico  3 

Pico 

LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


161 


@ 


.1 


ff>^"""  .  \     _ts 


o:  y  S  i  S   °   i    '^'' 


® 


12—63 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


Tabular  List  of  Pico  Canon  Welis — Continued. 
From  original  records. 


Present  number. 




Pico 

PifO 

Pico 

I::::::: 

Pico 
Pico 

— 

Pico 
Pico 

Pico. 
Pico. 


Pico. 
Pico. 
Pico. 
Pico  . 
Pico- 
Pico- 


: j I  Producer. 

1  Producer. 

'  Producer. 

! I  Producer. 

Pico I i i  Abandoned  hole.     No  data 

Pico I ! Producer.    No  data. 


30  barrels  in  1887.  Yielded  75  bar- 
rels at  first,  at  600  feet,  but  fell 
off  to  14  barrels  and  was  then 
deepened.    Still  producing. 

25  barrels  in  1887.  Still  producing. 
lOO  feet  north  of  "break." 

25  barrels  in  1887.  Still  producing. 
300  feet  north  of  "break." 

Flowing  40  barrels  in  1887.  StilJ 
producing. 

Spoiled  hole,  dry. 

Produced  5  or  barrels  for  a  short 
time,  then  went  dry.  Say  20O 
feet  south  of  "break." 

Located  close  to  8b.     Dry  hole. 

35  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  500  feet 
north  of  "break."  Oil  from  bot- 
tom of  hole.  Abandoned  since 
1890. 

Tools  lost  at  this  depth;  never 
produced;  flowing  trace  of  oil  in 
1887.    150  feet  south  of  "break." 

Fresh  water,  a  little  tar,  and  a 
little  gas.  Dry  hole.  250  feet 
south  of  "break." 

18  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Heavier 
oil  than  balance  of  wells,  also 
more  paraflfin  and  more  gas. 
North  of  "break."  Still  pro- 
ducing. 

40  barrels  in  1887.  Heavier  oil  than 
balance  of  wells,  also  more  par- 
aflfln  and  more  gas.  North  of 
"break."     Still   producing. 

Dry  hole.  Probably  south  of 
"break." 

Oil  near  bottom  of  weU.  StiU 
producing. 

A  thin  streak  of  sand,  and  below 
this  sand  with  a  little  oil.  Aban- 
doned when  drilled.  South  of 
"break." 

Some  oil  near  bottom.  Lost  in 
running  sand.  Abandoned  when 
driUed. 

Two  strata  oil.     Still  producing. 
Diamond  drill  hole;  spoiled.    Ten  or 
more    streaks    oil    sand.      Aban- 
doned when  drilled.     Very  smalJ 
producer. 
Abandoned  hole.    No  data. 
Producer.    No  data. 
No  data. 
No  data. 
No  data. 
No  data. 


.:  Abandoned  hole.    No  data. 

-  Abandoned  hole.    No  data. 
.|  Abandoned  hole.     No  data. 

-  Abandoned  hole.    No  data. 
.[  Producer.    No  data. 

-I  A    producer,     north    of    No.     29, 
shown  on   Standard's  1910  map, 
!     not  numbered. 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


163 


® 


:^s:dE5s 


i^^^^^di 


3  ar 


164 


LOS   ANGELES    COUNTY. 


List  of  Pico  Carion  Wells — Continued. 
From  original  records. 


Present  number. 


Claim. 


Old  number. 


P.  c.  o. 

P  c.  o. 

p.  c.  o. 

p.  o.  o. 

p.  c.  o. 

p.  0.  o. 
p.  o.  o. 


Co.  1. 

Co.  2. 

Co.  3- 

Co.  4. 

Co.  5. 

Co.  6. 

Co.  7_ 


Menlo 

Menlo 

Menlo 

Menlo 

Menlo 

Belmont 
Belmont 


San  Fernando  1. 

San  Fernando  2. 

San  Fernando  3. 

San  Fernando  4. 

San  Fernando  5. 

San  Fernando  6. 
San  Fernando  7. 


P.  C.  O.  Co.    8.    Menlo 1  San  Fernando  8. 


P.  C.  O. 
P.  C.  O. 

P   C.  O. 

P.  C.  O. 

P.  C.  O. 

P.  C.  O. 
P.  C.  O. 


Co.    9- 
Co.  10. 

Co.  11. 

Co.  12. 

Co.  13. 

Co.  14. 
Co.  15. 


Menlo. 
Menlo. 


Belmont 

Belmont 

Belmont 

Belmont 
Belmont 


P.  C. 
P.  C. 
P.  C. 
P.  C. 
P.  C. 


P.  C.  O.  Co.  21.    Menlo. 


P.  C. 
P.  C. 
P.  C. 
P.  C. 
P.  C. 
P.  C. 

p.  c. 
p.  c. 
p.  c. 
p.  c. 
p.  c. 


O.  Co.  22. 
O.  Co.  23. 
O.  Co.  24. 
O.  Co.  25- 
O.  Co.  26. 
O.  Co.  27. 
O.  Co.  28. 
O.  Co.  29. 
O.  Co.  30. 
O.  Co.  31. 
O.  Co.  32. 


P.  0.  O.  Co.  33. 
P.  C.  O.  Co.  34. 
P.  C.  O.  Co.  35. 
P.  C.  O.  Co.  36. 
P.  C.  O.  Co.  37. 


Hill  1 . 
Hill  2. 
Hill  3  . 


Menlo 

Menlo 

Menlo 

Belmont 
Menlo 


Belmont 
Belmont 


San  Fernando  9. 
San  Francisco  1. 

San  Francisco  2. 

San  Francisco  3. 

San  Francisco  4. 


O.  Co.  16.  Belmont 
O.  Co.  17.  Menlo.... 
O.  Co.  18.  Belmont 
O.  Co.  19.1  Menlo.... 
O.  Co.  20-!  Menlo.-.. 


Menlo 

Menlo 

Belmont 

Menlo 

Belmont 
Belmont 

Menlo 

Belmont 
Belmont 
Belmont 
Menlo 


1515 


975 
1220 


1889       840 
1839     1200 


20  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still 
producing. 

40  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still 
producing. 

25  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still 
producing. 

18  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still 
producing. 

15  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still 
producing. 

10  barrels  in  1887.     Still  producing. 

Dry  hole.  Abandoned  when  drilled. 
Slight  traces  of  black  oil. 

60  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still 
producing. 

Still  producing. 

Dry  hole;  abandoned  when  drilled. 
Location  on   map  uncertain. 

5  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still  pro- 
ducing. 

Dry  hole;  no  oil  whatever.  Aban- 
doned when  drilled. 

40  barrels  per  day  in  1887.  Still 
producing. 

Still  producing. 

Normal  amount  oil,  drowned  out 
by  upper  water.  Abandoned 
when  drilled. 

Abandoned  hole.    No  data. 

Still  producing. 

Still  producing. 

Still  producing. 

Originally  small  producer.  Aban- 
doned since  1890. 

Location  uncertain.  Probably  once 
a  producer;  now  abandoned. 

Abandoned  well.    No  data. 

Producer.     No  data. 

Producer.    No  data. 
I  Producer.     No  data. 

Abandoned  well.  No  data. 
!  Abandoned  well.  No  data. 
j  Producer.     No  data. 

Producer.    No  data. 
!  Abandoned  well.     No  data. 
I  Abandoneed  well.     No  data. 

Location  uncertain.  A  well  taken 
to  be  No.  32  was  drilling  at  the 
beginning  of  1911 . 

Abandoned  well.    No  data. 

Producer.     No  data. 

Producer.     No  data. 

Producer.     No  data. 

Drilling  at  -the  beginning  of  1911. 
Said  to  be  a  very  deep  hole,  with 
considerable  oil. 

Dry  hole.    Abandoned  when  drilled. 

Dry  hole.    Abandoned  when  drilled. 

No  oil  sand,  but  streaks  of  oil 
under  shells.  Pumped  5  barrels 
per  day  for  a  time:  ruined  by 
upper  water  breaking  in . 

Dry  hole;  no  oil  whatever.  Aban- 
doned when  drilled. 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


165 


iia^ 


166 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


® 


^? 


1 


J 


ii 


I 


FIGURE  2S 

PICO 

NORTH-SOUTH    SECTION 


Wells  in  DeWitt  Canon. 

Seven  wells  appear  to  have  been  drilled  in  DeWitt,  or  to  give  it  the 
old  name.  Little  Moore  Canon.  Of  these,  records  can  be  found  for  but 
three. 

The  first  two  wells  were  drilled  by  the  Hardison  &  Stewart  Oil  Com- 
pany in  1882  and  1883.  No.  1  was  about  1000  feet  deep,  and  found  a 
small  quantity,  say  about  one  barrel  per  day,  of  a  black  oil  of  some  24° 
Beaume.  An  analysis  of  this  oil  is  given  in  connection  with  those  of 
Pico  oils.     This  well  is  still  flowing  slowly. 

No.  2  was  either  700  or  1100  feet  deep,  probably  the  former,  and  is 
said  to  have  been  a  perfectly  dry  hole.  This  is  down  the  canon  from 
No.  1,  both  being  in  the  east  fork  of  the  canon. 

No.  3  is  also  said  to  have  been  drilled  by  the  Hardison  &  Stewart  Oil 
Company,  but  as  this  well  is  not  mentioned  in  the  1887  report  of  the 
State  Mineralogist,  this  statement  appears  to  be  doubtful.     This  hole 


LOS   ANGELES    COUNTY.  167 

is  reported  locally  to  have  been  1600  feet  deep,  and  to  have  found  some 
oil.     It  is  in  the  west  fork  of  the  canon. 

Nothing  whatever  can  at  present  be  learned  as  to  the  other  four  wells, 
which  were  probably  drilled  by  the  Pacific  Coast  Oil  Company.  These 
wells  are  on  the  Arcadia  and  Camulos  claims,  in  the  north  half  of 
section  7,  3-16. 

The  DeWitt  wells  seem  to  have  been  some  distance  out  on  the  north- 
dipping  formation,  at  least  one  half  mile  north-northeast  of  the  fault 
line  running  from  Pico  to  Wiley,  and  are  probably  on  a  small  secondary 
fold  or  fault  which  shows  for  some  distance  farther  east. 

Wells  in  Towsley  Canon. 

Eleven  wells  are  in  evidence  in  Towsley  Caiion  or  on  the  hills  immedi- 
ately adjacent,  but  the  records  are  fragmentary  and  confused.  No 
work  is  mentioned  in  any  of  the  older  reports  before  1893,  yet  it  is 
highly  probable  that  the  two  wells  on  the  Temple  claim  are  of  consid- 
-erably  greater  age. 

The  first  recorded  work  was  done  by  the  Washington  Oil  Company 
in  1893  and  1894.  The  first  well  of  this  company,  drilled  immediately 
-on  the  outcrop,  was  200  feet  deep,  and  found  a  little  heavy  black  oil, 
presumably  heavy  only  as  compared  with  the  light  oils  of  Pico.  The 
second  well  was  about  400  feet  deep,  and  got  the  same  results.  The 
third  well  of  this  company  was  farther  down  the  dip,  and  when  reported 
in  1894  had  found  some  green  oil  of  about  30°  Beaume  at  a  depth  of 
600  feet.  The  final  depth  of  this  well  is  not  known,  but  probably 
approximated  1000  feet.  The  rig  was  burned  and  the  company  went 
into  bankruptcy. 

A  well  drilled  by  Boyle  &  Thompson,  in  1897,  is  said  to  have  been 
1035  feet  deep,  and  to  have  passed  through  six  streaks  of  oil. 

Auother  well,  drilled  by  parties  unknown,  in  the  same  locality,  but 
in  the  following  year,  is  said  to  have  gone  through  brown  shale  and 
sand  to  a  depth  of  1320  feet,  where  flowing  oil  was  struck.  Presumably 
this  was  of  short  duration,  as  the  well  was  never  produced. 

A  well  was  drilled  b}^  Clark,  Sherman  &  Co..  in  the  year  1896,  to  a 
depth  variously  reported  at  900  and  1600  feet.  This  accounts  for  six 
of  the  eight  wells  which  may  be  observed  on  the  east  side  of  the  caiion, 
on  the  Towsley  oil  claim,  northeast  quarter  of  section  17.  Two  or 
three  of  these  old  wells  are  now  seeping  a  little  oil  ranging  between  20° 
and  30°  Beaume,  and  from  these  enough  oil  is  taken  to  supply  the 
drilling  rig  now  working  in  the  canon. 

Consolidated  Midway  Chief  Oil  Company  is  now  working  close  to  the 
bottom  of  the  canon,  and  to  the  southwest  of  the  old  wells. .  Early  in 
the  current  year  this  well  had  reached  a  depth  of  some  600  feet,  and 


168  LOS   ANGELES    COUNTY. 

had  passed  through  several  oil  streaks,  but  had  not  enough  oil  to  make 
a  producer. 

Towsley  Cafion  OH  Company  drilled  a  well  in  the  year  1902,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  canon,  and  just  south  of  the  line  of  the  Towsley 
claim.  This  well  was  980  feet  deep,  and  was  a  crooked  hole.  A  little 
oil  was  found. 

St.  Bernard  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  in  the  west 
fork  of  the  canon,  and  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half,  following  the  windings 
of  the  gulch,  above  the  other  wells.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1903,  to  a 
depth  of  2100  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  encountered  oil  at  several  levels, 
but  with  no  production.  In  1911  this  well  was  reported  to  be  again 
drilling,  but  was  not  visited. 

The  Towsley  Canon  wells  seem  to  be  on  the  main  fault  line  running 
from  Pico  to  Wiley,  but  were  located  where  there  was  a  great  deal  of 
local  crumpling.  While  most  if  not  all  of  these  wells  found  a  little  oil, 
there  is  no  indication  that  any  of  them  found  any  real  producing  forma- 
tion, and  it  is  highly  probable  that  all  M^ere  located  immediately  in  the 
fault  zone.  The  apparent  line  of  outcrop  of  the  north-dipping  forma- 
tion cuts  through  the,  group  of  wells  near  its  southern  margin,  but  there 
is  no  way  to  determine  the  vertical  angle  of  the  fault  line,  nor  the 
width  of  the  crushed  strip.  It  would  appear  that  the  best  prospects, 
reasoning  at  least  from  the  results  at  Pico,  would  lie  farther  out  on  the 
north  dip,  and  even  though  a  deeper  hole  were  required  to  reach  the 
sands,  this  would  be  offset  by  the  greater  ease  of  drilling  in  unshattered 
formation. 
Wells  in  Wiley  Caiion. 

Seventeen  or  more  wells  have  been  drilled  in  this  canon,  but  little 
information  regarding  them  can  be  had.  Prior  to  1887,  two  wells  had 
been  drilled  here,  one  about  900,  the  other  1325  feet  deep.  Each  of 
these  wells  is  recorded  as  having  given  a  small  quantity  of  dark  green 
36°  oil,  but  no  production. 

In  1910,  seven  wells  in  this  canon  were  producing,  two  were  unfin- 
ished, and  seven  had  been  abandoned.  No.  13,  the  farthest  well  to  the 
southeast,  was  reported  to  be  a  very  good  producer  at  some  1800  feet. 
This  well  flowed  by  heads  while  being  drilled.  The  wells  on  the  hill 
immediately  below  this  are  said  to  be  1300  to  1400  feet  deep.  The 
drilling  well  farthest  to  the  north,  down  the  caiion,  was  said  to  be  some 
1500  feet  at  that  time,  but  the  expectation  was  to  carry  it  to  2000  feet. 
The  first  thirteen  wells  were  reported  in  1900  to  range  from  600  to  1626 
feet  in  depth.     At  that  time  only  three  of  these  wells  were  productive. 

At  least  the  older  wells  in  this  canon  are  very  small  producers,  and 
are  pumped  but  twice  a  week.  It  appears  to  be  characteristic  of  these 
wells  that  they  start  off  with  a  good  production,  but  dwindle  very 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  1(39 

rapidly,  this  being  in  strong  contrast  with  the  behavior  of  the  Pico 
Gallon  wells.  No  reliable  estimate  of  the  gross  production  of  this  group 
of  wells  can  be  had,  but  it  is  probably  small.  These  wells  are  situated 
near  the  center  of  section  16,  3-16,  along  the  line  of  the  main  fault,  and 
are  the  property  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company  of  California.  The 
older  wells  were  drilled  by  the  Pacific  Coast  Oil  Company,  or  its  prede- 
cessors. 
Wells  in  Rice  Cafion. 

Ten  wells  are  known  to  have  been  drilled  in  Rice  Caiion :  two  on 
property  now  belonging  to  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  seven  on  the 
W.  P.  Rice  property,  and  one  about  one  half  mile  farther  up  the  canon. 
All  abandoned. 

Standard  Oil  Coynpany.  The  wells  of  this  company  are  located,  one 
on  each  side  of  the  canon,  just  north  of  the  south  line  of  section  15. 
Well  No.  1  was  drilled  to  500  feet.  No.  2  to  800  feet.  The  first  is  said 
to  have  been  good  for  three  barrels  daily,  the  second  was  drowned  by 
upper  water. 

Rice  Canon  Oil  Company.  Seven  wells  were  drilled  by  this  corpor- 
ation, on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  22, 
but  these  are  now  the  property  of  W.  P.  Rice  of  Summerfield,  Massa- 
chusetts. These  wells  were  drilled  in  1889  and  1890,  and  are  said  to 
range  from  800  to  1600  feet,  though  most  of  them  are  of  the  minimum 
depth.  These  wells  made  a  little  oil  of  about  30°  gravity,  but  a  good 
deal  of  water  also,  and  are  not  now  operating. 

Newhall  Mountain  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company,  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  21,  was  drilled  to  a 
depth  of  1800  feet  without  finding  any  indications  of  oil. 

The  Newhall  well  was  far  to  the  south  of  the  fault  line,  and  on  south- 
dipping  formation.     The  Rice  wells  appear  to  be  located  immediately 
in  the  fault  zone,  which  would  account  for  the  water.     The  Standard 
wells  are  a  short  distance  out  on  north-dipping  formation. 
Wells  in  East  Cafion. 

But  two  wells  are  reported  in  this  canon,  both  on  the  west  side,  and 
both  abandoned. 

Bradshaw  &  Beville.  This  well  is  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  22,  and  apparently  almost  on  the  outcrop 
of  the  north-dipping  strata.  It  was  carried  to  a  depth  somewhat  in 
excess  of  800  feet,  and  it  is  said  to  have  had  a  very  good  showing  of  18° 
gravity  oil  near  the  bottom,  but  encountered  flowing  water  immediately 
beneath  the  oil. 

Grapevine  Canon  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  corporation  is  on 
the  forty  immediately  north  of  the  above,  and  was  drilled  in  1901.     It 


170  LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 

was  pointed  and  abandoned  at  1300  feet,  and  seems  to  have  been  entirely 
barren.     It  was  probably  too  far  out  on  the  north  dip  to  reach  the 
productive  sands,  if  any.  at  this  depth. 
Wells  in  Learning  Canon. 

Two  wells  are  known  to  have  been  located  in  this  canon,  but  both 
w-ere  shallow,  and  can  hardly  be  considered  as  tests. 

Dividend  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  near  the 
south  line  of  section  10,  and  about  one  eighth  mile  from  the  east  line 
of  the  section.  It  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  about  700  feet,  and  had  no 
signs  of  oil. 

California  Oil  Company.  This  company,  which  also  drilled  on  section 
18,  3-15,  has  a  400-foot  abandoned  well  south  of  the  canon,  in  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  14.  As  might  be  expected,  no  oil  was 
encountered  at  this  depth. 

These  wells  appear,  superficially  at  least,  to  be  on  a  secondary  fold, 
or  fault,  roughly  parallel  to  the  main  Pico-Wiley  fault.     The  possible 
productiveness  of  this  fold  remains  to  be  proven. 
Wells  in  Elsmere  and  Newhall  Caiions. 

The  group  of  heavy  oil  wells  generally  known  as  the  Elsmere  wells 
are  found  in  the  three  branches  of  the  upper  caiion  of  Newhall  Creek. 
The  northeast  branch  of  this  canon,  not  named  on  the  maps,  but  known 
locally  as  Mud  Springs  Caiion,  follows  closely  the  north  line  of  section 
7,  3-15,  and  joins  Newhall  Creek  about  one  and  one  half  miles  above 
(southeast  of)  the  town  of  Newhall.  Elsmere  Caiion  heads  near  the 
southeast  comer  of  section  18,  in  the  same  township,  and  takes  a  north- 
westerly course  to  join  Newhall  Creek  a  short  distance  above  the  junction 
of  Mud  Springs  Caiion.  Newhall  Creek  takes  a  rise  near  the  center 
of  the  east  line  of  section  13,  3-16,  and  flows  almost  due  to  north  to  the 
junction  of  Mud  Springs  Caiion,  whence  it  trends  northwest  to  join  the 
Santa  Clara  River  near  Saugus. 

Between  Mud  Springs  and  Elsmere  caiions  the  hills  are  low  and 
rounded,  but  between  Elsmere  and  Newhall  canons  is  a  high  and  very 
steep  ridge,  almost  precipitous  on  its  east  face,  somewhat  more  gentle 
to  the  west,  and  ending  abruptly  near  the  center  of  the  west  line  of 
section  7.  The  wells  in  Mud  Springs  Caiion  are  some  distance  from 
those  of  Elsmere,  but  the  latter  have  been  carried  up  and  over  the 
ridge,  and  cannot  be  divided  from  the  wells  in  Newhall  Caiion.  As 
there  is  some  reason  for  believing  that  all  the  wells  in  these  two  canons 
€nter  a  common  formation,  they  will  here  be  described  as  a  single  group. 

Pearl  Oil  Company.  Well  No.  1  of  this  company  is  the  most  south- 
erly in  this  group,  the  Enterprise,  Alliance  and  Padua  wells  being  south 
of  the  divide.     This  well  is  immediately  at  the  head  of  Newhall  Canon, 


Pico  Canon,  Newhall,  Los  Angeles  County. 


Wells  in   Newhall   Caiion,   Newhall,   Los  Angeles  County. 


LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY.  171 

and  close  to  the  summit  of  the  range.  It  was  drilled  in  1901  to  a  depth 
of  1050  feet,  and  had  about  35  feet  of  oil  sand.  This,  however,  was 
found  close  to  the  surface,  and  was  not  productive  enough  to  justify 
pumping,  and  the  well  was  abandoned. 

Well  No.  2  was  located  west  of  the  San  Fernando  road,  and  some 
distance  down  the  mountain  from  No.  1.  This  well  was  abandoned  at 
600  feet  because  of  upper  water,  which  could  not  be  shut  off. 

Well  No.  3  is  east  of  No.  2,  immediately  on  the  county  road,  and  close 
to  both  the  grant  line  and  the  producing  wells  north.  This  well  was 
drilled  to  2015  feet  in  the  year  1903.  It  found  the  upper  sands,  those 
from  which  the  wells  immediately  north  produce,  in  place  at  a  slight 
depth,  but  these  were  not  sufficiently  productive  to  justify  operation, 
and  nothing  was  found  below.  This  test  is  of  considerable  interest,  as 
it  shows  the  southern  limit  of  producing  values  in  the  upper  sands,  and 
indicates  the  lack  of  any  oil-bearing  strata  at  greater  depth. 

Zenith  Oil  Company.  This  company,  a  Los  Angeles  corporation,  and 
not  identical  with  the  Zenith  Oil  Company  of  Maine,  which  operated 
in  the  early  years  at  Coalinga,  has  four  abandoned  and  four  producing 
wells  on  the  Rancho  San  Francisco,  in  the  caiion  of  Newhall  Creek,  and 
immediately  at  the  foot  of  Elsmere  Ridge.  Of  the  first  three  nothing 
is  known ;  drilling  had  begun  in  1900,  and  two  had  already  been  aban- 
doned in  1903. 

The  present  group  of  producers  is  found  near  the  southern  extremity 
of  the  grant,  and  immediately  west  of  the  Commercial  and  Eureka  wells. 
Well  No.  1  is  630  feet,  and  No.  2  is  645  feet  deep,  and  are  producers. 
No.  3  was  drilled  to  925  feet,  found  the  sand  as  in  adjacent  wells,  but 
was  ruined  by  top  water,  and  abandoned.  No.  4  is  a  producer  at  760 
feet,  and  No.  5  at  740  feet.  The  four  producers  are  all  on  the  jack, 
but  were  shut  do^vn  when  visited.  The  oil  in  the  tanks  is  a  black  oil  of 
some  15°  Beaume,  and  of  less  viscosity  than  the  oil  from  the  ridge  wells 
(see  analysis.)     These  wells  are  said  to  be  small  but  steady  producers. 

San  Miguel  Oil  and  Development  Company — Newhall  Petroleum 
Company.  This  well  was  drilled,  or  at  least  started,  by  the  San  Miguel 
Oil  and  Development  Company,  which  also  operated  in  Placerita  Canon. 
Later  the  property  was  leased  to  the  Newhall  Petroleum  Company,  but 
has  now  reverted  to  the  original  owner,  Mr.  H.  Clay  Needham  of 
Newhall.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1903  to  a  depth  of  1500  feet,  and  was 
pumped  for  a  time,  but  afterward  abandoned.  This  well  is  said  to  have 
found  water  in  the  sands  producing  oil  farther  to  the  east,  and  to  have 
made  a  mixture  of  water  and  oil,  indicating  that  permanent  water  level 
had  been  reached  in  this  direction. 

Safe  Oil  Company.  This  company  operated  in  1901  on  the  small 
tract  just  west  of  the  Santa  Ana  wells.     The  hole  was  slightly  less  than 


172  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY. 

1000  feet  in  depth,  and  found  a  small  quantity  of  heavy  tar,  too  stiff  to 
pump,  at  the  bottom.  It  was  the  opinion  of  local  operators  at  the  time 
that  this  hole  was  then  immediately  above  the  sands  found  in  the  Santa 
Ana  wells.  The  rig  is  still  in  place,  but  no  work  has  been  done  for 
many  years. 

E.  A.  <&  D.  L.  Clampitt — London  Petroleum  Company — Ventura  Oil 
Development  Company.  The  properties  hereafter  described  under  the 
names  Alpine  Oil  Company,  Santa  Ana  Oil  Company,. Commercial  Oil 
Company  and  Eureka  Crude  Oil  Company,  w^ere  sold  during  1908  to 
1910  to  E.  A.  and  D.  L.  Clampitt  of  Los  Angeles.  Shortly  after  these 
properties  were  sold  to  the  London  Petroleum  Company,  but  it  is  said 
that  the  purchase  was  never  completed,  and  that  the  present  title  is  in 
Clampitt  Bros.  During  1911  these  leases  were  being  operated  by  the 
Ventura  Oil  Development  Company,  an  affiliated  company  of  the  London 
Petroleum  Company. 

Santa  Ana  Oil  Company.  The  wells  of  this  company  are  on  the  north 
half  of  Lot  3,  section  12,  3-16.  Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1901,  to  a 
depth  of  1009  feet,  and  was  a  producer.  No.  2  was  also  a  producer  at 
986  feet.  No.  3  was  drilled  in  1902,  to  a  depth  of  875  feet,  and  was 
also  a  producer,  though  always  a  smaller  well  than  the  other  two. 
These  w^ells  are  small  producers  of  a  very  heavy  oil,  gravity  about  12  "^ 
Beaume.  The  Santa  Ana  Company  also  drilled  in  section  18,  3-15,  and 
at  Newport  and  in  Ventura  County  (Piru). 

Alpine  Oil  Company.  These  wells  are  on  the  south  half  of  Lot  3, 
section  12.  No.  1  was  abandoned  at  800  feet  because  of  casing  trouble. 
No.  2  is  a  producer  at  800  feet,  and  No.  3  at  850  feet.  These  wells  are 
also  producers  of  very  heavy  black  oil. 

Commercial  Oil  Company.  The  welLs  of  this  company  are  on  the 
north  half  of  Lot  1,  section  13,  3-16.  Well  No.  1  was  abandoned  at  700 
feet  because  of  casing  trouble.  Wells  No.  2,  No.  3,  and  No.  4  are  all 
producers,  at  1000  feet,  700  feet,  and  700  feet,  respectively.  The  oil 
from  these  wells  is  somewhat  lighter  than  that  from  the  Alpine  and 
Santa  Ana  w^ells,  but  the  production  is  small.  These  wells  were  drilled 
in  1901  and  1902. 

Eureka  Crude  Oil  Company.  The  wells  drilled  by  this  company  are 
on  the  south  half  of  the  same  lot,  and  were  drilled  in  1901.  Well  No.  1 
is  800,  No.  2  is  850  feet  deep.  Both  are  said  to  be  capable  of  production, 
but  were  sanded  up  and  not  operating  when  last  visited.  These  wells 
are  at  nearly  the  southern  limit  of  production,  and  make  but  very  little 
oil,  even  when  in  good  condition.  The  oil  is  said  to  be  similar  to  that 
from  the  Zenith  wells. 

Squaw  Flat  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  the  year  1911, 
in  the  extreme  northeast  corner  of  section  18,  3-15.     The  well  was  1205 


LOS    AXGKLES    COUNTY.  173 

feet  deep,  and  found  a  fair  stratum  of  oil  sand,  but  not  very  productive, 
and  when  the  rig  was  accidentally  burned  it  was  not  replaced.  This 
company  are  also  operating  in  the  Upper  Sespe,  Ventura  County. 

California  Oil  Company.  The  well  drilled  by  this  company  was  in 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  northwest  cpiarter  of  section  17,  3-15,  in 
Elsmere  Caiion,  but  nearly  at  the  summit  of  the  ridge.  It  was  drilled 
in  1900,  was  about  1200  feet  deep,  and  barren. 

Graves  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  17.  It  was  drilled  in  1900  to  a  depth  of 
about  1500  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  gone  into  solid  granite.  It  was  a 
dry  hole. 

Good  Luck  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company'  was  drilled  in 
1900,  on  the  hillside  above  the  Standard's  Elsmere  wells,  in  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  7,  3-15.  It  is  reported  to  have  been  675  feet  deep, 
and  to  have  shown  a  little  oil,  and  considerable  water.  Abandoned  when 
drilled. 

Standard  Oil  Company — Elsmere.  On  this  tract  there  are  twenty 
wells,  of  which  eleven  are  more  or  less  productive,  while  nine  have  been 
abandoned.  The  first  well  on  this  tract  was  drilled  by  the  California 
Star  Oil  Company,  then  owners  of  the  ground,  in  1889.  This  well  is 
said  to  have  been  600  feet  deep.  Between  this  time  and  1900,  fifteen 
wells  had  been  drilled,  of  which  seven  were  productive  in  the  latter  year, 
and  reported  to  yield  from  7  to  45  barrels  per  day  each.  In  1903, 
shortly  after  the  property  passed  to  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  eleven 
wells  were  producing,  and  three  suspended  but  rigged.  This  lease  was 
allowed  to  stand  idle  for  a  considerable  time,  and  no  new  work  has  been 
done  for  some  years.  The  wells  now  pumping  are  on  the  jack,  like  all 
the  wells  on  the  ridge  above  it. 

This  group  of  wells  is  located  in  the  canon,  and  on  the  steep  side  of  the 
ridge  to  the  west.  The  evidences  of  a  fault,  of  which  the  west  is  the 
up-thrust  side,  are  very  plain,  and  the  abandoned  wells  farther  to  the 
east,  including  all  but  one  east  of  the  creek  bed,  appear  to  have  been 
sunk  in  barren  formation.  The  depth  of  these  wells  is  not  known, 
though  it  is  said  that  the  one  farthest  to  the  southeast  (not  exactly 
located,  but  described  as  in  the  flat  below  the  California  well,  and  prob- 
ably in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  18),  was  carried  to  a  depth  of 
about  1800  feet,  of  which  1200  feet  was  in  more  or  less  solid,  or  at 
least  unbroken,  granite.  West  of  the  creek  bed  the  wells  range  from 
600  to  1200  feet  in  depth,  the  variation  being  approximately  equal  to 
the  difference  in  level  at  the  derrick  floor.  That  is,  the  sands  appeared 
to  have  a  slight  pitch  only  to  the  west.  No  detailed  information  is  at 
hand  from  which  the  contour  of  the  sands  can  be  plotted,  but  the  attached 
figure  illustrates  in  a  highly  generalized  manner  the  structure  of  the 


174 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


country  across  Elsmere  and  Newhall  canons.  The  gravity  of  the  average 
oil  from  this  lease  is  about  14°  Beaume,  the  wells  next  to  the  fault  line 
producing  the  heaviest  oil,  and  those  farthest  to  the  southwest  the 
lightest. 


Figure  26. 
Cross    section,    Elsmere    and    Newhall    canons. 

Wells  in  Mud  Springs  Cafion. 

Eight  wells  have  been  drilled  in  this  caiion,  of  which  two  are  now  pro- 
ducing, four  have  made  some  oil,  but  have  been  lost  for  various  reasons, 
and  two  were  dry  or  practically  so. 

Connell,  D.  A.  These  wells  are  the  private  property  of  Mr.  D.  A. 
Connell,  of  Newhall,  and  are  located  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
6,  3-15,  on  the  floor  of  Mud  Springs  Caiion,  and  just  north  of  the  creek 
bed.  The  difference  of  elevation  is  slight.  Well  No.  1  is  the  farthest 
east,  and  is  but  a  short  distance  from  the  Golden  West  well  mentioned 
below.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1908,  to  a  depth  of  950  feet.  At  about 
500  feet  a  thin  layer  of  sand  was  found,  containing  a  little  oil.  The 
principal  producing  layer  was  met  at  835  feet,  and  the  well  is  now  pump- 
ing from  this  sand,  called  locally  the  second  sand.  This  was  a  fairly 
firm  but  soft  sand,  and  gives  a  peculiar  brownish-green  oil  some  17° 
Beaume.     The  analyses  of  this  and  following  oils  are  given  below. 

Well  No.  2  found  a  heavy  oil  sand  at  some  600  feet,  this  being  similar 
to  and  probably  identical  with  the  sand  producing  in  No.  3.     This  sand 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  175 

Avas  not  perforated,  however,  and  the  M^ell  was  carried  down  in  search  of 
the  sand  producing  in  No.  1.  This  was  found  below  1000  feet,  but  less 
productive  here  than  in  No.  1,  and  at  1100  feet  a  quantity  of  water  was 
struck  and  the  well  ruined. 

Well  No.  3  was  carried  through  the  first  sand  only,  and  was  lauded 
below  it  at  about  600  feet.  This  sand  is  here  quite  productive,  but  gives 
a  much  heavier  oil  than  is  found  in  the  second  sand,  and  carries  also 
some  fresh  water.  This  is  considered  to  come  from  No.  2  well,  or  from 
one  of  the  older  wells  to  the  east.  No.  3  is  pumping  on  the  beam,  and 
No.  1  on  jack. 

Golden  West  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  just  east  of  Connell  No.  1, 
and  at  a  slightly  greater  elevation,  perhaps  50  feet.  It  was  drilled  in 
1894,  to  a  depth  of  930  feet,  and  got  a  good  producer  in  the  second  sand, 
the  quality  of  the  oil  being  about  the  same  as  that  from  Connell  No.  1. 
This  well  is  said  to  have  pumped  250  barrels  in  the  first  four  days,  but 
upper  water  followed  down,  attempts  to  cement  failed,  and  the  hole  was 
abandoned. 

Banner  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  just  east  of  the  foregoing,  and  at 
about  the  same  elevation.  Nevertheless,  it  found  what  appears  to  be  the 
second  sand  at  about  800  feet,  with  considerable  oil,  but  too  much  upper 
water  to  handle.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1893,  and  was  abandoned 
when  the  water  (or  quicksand)  came  in. 

Nettleton  &  Kellerman  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  of  this  company 
are  a  short  distance  southeast  of  the  Connell  wells.  No.  1  at  about  the 
same  level.  No.  2  somewhat  higher.  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1899  to  a  depth 
of  1450  feet,  and  found  two  sands,  which  seem  to  be  the  second  of  the 
Connell  wells,  and  a  third  sand  not  reached  in  either  of  these  latter. 
Nothing  corresponding  to  the  first  sand  was  passed  in  this  well,  but  the 
second  sand  was  found  as  a  very  thin  layer,  and  but  slightly  productive. 
The  oil  from  this  sand  is  now  flowing  around  the  outer  string,  and 
though  somewhat  weathered,  is  very  similar  in  appearance  to  the  oil 
from  Connell  No.  1.  At  somewhere  about  1100  feet  a  third  producing 
stratum  was  reached,  and  the  well  flowed  very  strongly.  For  a  time  the 
well  was  an  excellent  producer,  but  fell  off  rapidly,  and  in  the  course  of 
a  few  months  was  making  but  two  or  three  barrels  a  day,  which  it  main- 
tained, being  pumped  at  intervals  until  a  short  time  since.  After  the 
production  dwindled  the  well  was  deepened  to  1450  feet,  but  went  into 
hard  rock  (granite)  without  finding  any  further  sands.  The  rig  was 
finally  burned  off  and  never  replaced,  but  the  light  oil  from  the  third 
sand  is  still  flowing  slowly  from  the  inner  string.  This  is  a  bright- 
green  oil  of  some  40°  gravity. 

Well  No.  2  was  drilled  in  the  succeeding  year,  and  found  a  little  oil  in 
the  second  sand,  but  no  production,  and  did  not  find  the  third.     The 


17ti  LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 

depth  of  the  hole  was  1000  feet,  which  makes  it  rather  uncertain 
whether  it  was  deep  enough  to  reach  this  formation.  The  owners  of  the 
property,  however,  believe  that  the  light  oil  found  in  No.  1  well  came 
from  a  crevice  in  hard  rock,  and  that  the  production  of  this  well  does 
not  argue  the  presence  of  a  third  producing  sand. 

Yankee  Doodle  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1900,  about 
three-eighths  mile  above  the  Kellerman  wells,  and  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  creek.  It  is  reported  that  this  well  was  705  feet  deep,  and  that  it 
got  some  oil,  but  the  latter  statement  may  be  questioned.  The  hole  is 
now  flowing  a  liberal  stream  of  strong  sulfur  water. 

Wells  on  the  South  Slope. 

►Several  wells  have  been  drilled  on  the  south  slope  of  the  range,  but 
none  of  these  have  developed  profitable  quantities  of  oil.  The  records, 
so  far  as  they  can  be  found,  are  as  follows : 

Padua  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  1900  on  the  Rinaldi 
tract,  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  24, 
3-16.  This  well  was  about  1200  feet  deep,  and  found  a  little  oil  near  the 
surface,  but  nothing  below. 

Alliance  Oil  Company.  A  hole  on  the  Weldon  property,  northeast 
quarter  of  the  same  section.  This  well  was  on  the  west  side  of  San  Fer- 
nando Caiion,  and  but  a  short  distance  east  of  the  railroad,  near  the 
southern  end  of  the  tunnel.  It  appears  to  have  been  started  in  an  out- 
crop, as  it  got  traces  of  thick  tarry  oil  near  the  surface,  but  nothing 
below.     Total  depth  was  700  feet,  drilled  in  1901. 

Enterprise  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  of  this  company  were  very 
near  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  but  slightly  on  the  southern  side,  being  on 
the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  13,  3-16. 
Like  the  foregoing,  they  found  a  little  oil  near  the  surface,  but  nothing 
of  commercial  value,  and  each  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  about  800  feet 
and  abandoned. 

Santa  Ana  Oil  Company.  This  company  (see,  also,  Elsmere)  drilled 
a  well  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  southeast  quarter  of  section  18,  3-15. 
close  to  the  summit  of  the  ridge  south  of  the  Elsmere  wells.  This  well 
was  drilled  in  1902,  and  was  640  feet  deep.  At  585  feet  an  oil  sand 
was  entered  which  showed  on  test  12  barrels  per  day  of  heavy  oil,  but 
in  attempting  to  deepen  the  well  a  string  of  tools  was  lost,  and  after  a 
long  fishing  job  the  well  was  abandoned. 

Mentey  Well.  In  the  upper  reaches  of  Grapevine  Caiion.  near  the 
north  line  of  section  19,  3-15,  a  seepage  of  heavy  oil  formerly  existed. 
and  just  below  this  a  well  was  drilled  by  a  Mr.  Mentey  in  1875.  The 
hole  was  417  feet  deep,  and  got  considerable  fresh  water  and  much 
gas,  but  no  oil. 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  177 

Pacoima  Oil  Company.  In  the  canon  lying  next  east  of  Grapevine 
Cafion  is  an  old  well  (northeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  20)  which  is  said  to  have  been  drilled  by  the  Pacoima  Oil  Com- 
pany. The  well  drilled  by  this  company  was  put  down  in  1901  and  was 
a  dry  hole  at  800  feet,  but  the  location  is  uncertain.  INIessrs.  Proudfit 
&  Parker,  of  Los  Angeles,  drilled  a  well  somewhere  in  this  neighbor- 
hood at  this  time,  reported  to  be  800  feet  deep  and  to  have  found 
traces  of  oil.  This  may  possibly  be  the  same  well. 
Wells  in  Placerita  Canon. 

The  wells  in  Placerita  Canon,  though  not  commercially  productive,  at 
one  time  attracted  great  attention  because  of  the  peculiar  quality  of 
the  oil,  and  from  the  very  remarkable  conditions  under  which  it  was 
found.  All  who  had  occasion  to  examine  this  territory  at  the  time  have 
<igreed  that  this  oil  was  found  either  in  granite  or  in  a  schist  of  granitic 
appearance.  As  granite  in  its  normal  condition  is  far  too  dense  to  carry 
a  large  quantity  of  oil,  we  must  understand  formation  to  be  the  softened 
and  decomposed  crystalline  rock  sometimes  found  near  the  contact  of 
sedimentary  and  plutonic  formations.  It  is  by  no  means  easy  to  deter- 
mine from  the  drillings  of  even  a  shallow  well  whether  the  tools  are 
working  in  such  a  softened  granite  or  in  a  sandstone  built  up  from 
granite  debris,  and  there  is  a  strong  possibility  that  this  oil  was  actually 
found  in  sandstone.  There  are  also  the  possibilities,  first,  that  the  oil 
might  be  found  in  granite  in  place,  by  seepage  through  cracks  in  the 
harder  material  from  a  nearby  porous  formation  in  which  the  oil  was 
lield  in  quantity,  but  if  such  formation  exists  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Placerita  it  has  not  yet  been  located  by  drilling;  or,  second,  that  the  oil 
might  be  brought  to  such  a  location  by  seepage  from  a  considerable  dis- 
tance throvigh  porous  shales  or  clays.  This  theory  agrees  well  with  the 
character  of  the  oil,  and  will  be  spoken  of  in  more  detail  in  connection 
with  the  analysis  of  the  oil. 

Freeman  &  Nelson  ^Y]iite  Oil  Company.  The  wells  of  this  company 
were  along  the  east  line  of  section  4,  3-15,  and  just  south  of  the  New 
•Century  wells. 

Well  No.  1  is  the  farthest  north,  and  was  drilled  in  1899.  This  well 
found  the  same  white  oil  as  the  New  Century  well,  at  a  depth  of  520 
feet.  The  well  has  never  been  produced  commercially,  except  to  furnish 
fuel  for  drilling  rigs,  but  it  is  stated  that  on  careful  tests,  extending 
over  several  days,  it  averages  2^  barrels  per  day. 

Well  No.  2  was  drilled  by  Clark  &  Sherman  of  Los  Angeles,  in  the 
year  1900.  This  well  is  immediately  south  of  No.  1,  and  though  carried 
to  a  depth  of  1030  feet,  was  practically  a  dry  hole,  finding  only  slight 
traces  of  the  white  oil. 

Well  No.  3  was  drilled  by  the  Freeman  &  Nelson  Company,  but  was 
13—63 


178  LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 

abandoned  at  457  feet  with  only  traces  of  oil.     The  property  is  now 
under  lease  to  the  Los  Angeles  &  Kern  Oil  Mining  Company. 

Los  Angeles  &  Kern  Oil  Mining  Company.  This  company  is  drilling 
just  east  of  Freeman  &  Nelson  No.  1,  and  in  January,  1912,  had 
reached  a  depth  of  450  feet. 

New  Century  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  four  wells  in  the 
years  1900  and  1901,  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  4,  3-15,  just 
north  of  Placerita  Creek. 

Well  No.  1  was  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  quarter,  and  at  720  feet 
obtained  a  production  of  several  barrels  per  day  of  a  white  limpid  oil  of 
some  43°  Beaume.  The  production  lasted  but  a  few  days,  and  seems  to 
have  come  from  a  pocket,  though  it  is  probable  that  the  well  is  capable 
of  a  small  steady  production. 

"Well  No.  2  of  this  company  was  located  just  north  of  No.  1,  and  had 
traces  of  oil  at  700  feet.  No.  3,  one  location  to  the  north  of  No.  2,  was 
carried  to  a  depth  of  900  feet  without  finding  any  oil.  No.  4,  still 
farther  north,  went  to  1000  feet,  and  also  had  a  little  white  oil,  but  not 
enough  to  pump. 

San  Miguel  Oil  &  Development  Company.  This  company  drilled  a 
well  on  the  S.  Cuneo  tract,  north  half  of  the  north  half  of  section  3,  3-15, 
in  the  year  1902.  This  well  was  1000  feet  deep  or  thereabouts,  and  is 
said  to  have  had  traces  of  the  white  oil  found  in  the  wells  farther  south. 

Harrison  Well.  This  well  is  located  on  the  same  property  as  above, 
but  about  one  fourth  mile  farther  east,  near  the  section  line  and  just 
south  of  the  county  road.  It  was  drilled  in  1905,  was  about  2100  feet 
deep,  and  is  said  to  have  been  entirely  barren. 

San  Bernardino  Well.  In  the  1894  report  of  the  State  Mineralogist 
a  well  under  this  name  is  reported  to  have  been  drilled  in  Placerita 
Canon,  four  miles  from  Newhall.  The  hole  is  reported  to  be  640  feet 
deep,  and  abandoned  because  of  lost  tools.  This  well  cannot  now  be 
located. 

Pioneer  White  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  3,  3-15.  The  well  was 
drilled  in  1901,  was  1270  feet  deep,  and  had  a  very  little  white  oil  and 
a  great  deal  of  water,  with  considerable  gas. 

lola  Oil  Company.     A  company  by  this  name  drilled  in  the  year  1901 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  12,  3-15,  in  Bear  Canon,  a  tributary 
of  Placerita  Canon.     This  well  is  said  to  have  been  dry  at  a  depth  of 
1100  feet. 
Wells  in  Township  4-15. 

At  least  three  wells,  and  probably  more,  have  been  drilled  in  this 
township,  but  only  the  scantiest  information  can  now  be  had. 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  179 

Portland  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  said  to  have  operated  in 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  31,  4-15,  south  of  the  divide  between 
Placerita  Canon  and  Soledad  Caiion,  in  the  year  1902.  This  is  said  to 
have  been  a  dry  hole,  about  800  feet  deep. 

Montezuma  Oil  Company.  A  corporation  by  this  name  is  reported  to 
have  drilled  in  Lot  4,  section  32,  4-15,  but  the  hole  cannot  be  located, 
and  nothing  is  known  as  to  its  history. 

Pacific  King  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  28,  4-15,  south  of  the  railroad  near  Humphreys 
station,  and  on  the  east  side  of  a  short  caiion  draining  into  Soledad 
Caiion.  This  well  was  1300  feet  deep,  and  is  variously  reported  to  have 
been  a  dry  hole,  and  to  have  shown  some  oil  near  the  bottom — the  former 
appears  more  likely. 
Wells  in  Township  5-15. 

Neivhall  Consolidated  OH  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  the 
year  1902  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  36,  5-15.  This  hole  was 
taken  to  a  total  depth  of  830  feet,  and  gave  a  good  showing  of  light- 
brown  oil  at  about  700  feet,  estimated  by  the  operators  at  from  two  to 
three  barrels  per  day.  Between  800  feet  and  the  bottom,  flowing 
water  was  struck,  which  could  not  be  handled.  It  is  said  that  the 
seepages  on  which  this  location  were  based  lie  to  the  east  and  a  little 
north,  or  along  the  apparent  strike  of  the  main  hill  formation. 
Tujunga  Wells. 

The  wells  of  this  group  were  drilled  in  townships  3-14  and  3-13,  in 
Pacoima,  Little  Tujunga,  and  Big  Tujunga  canons.  This  territory  has 
never  been  visited  by  representatives  of  the  Mining  Bureau,  and  the 
reports  are  less  definite  than  might  be  wished,  but  are  here  given. 

Denver  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  the  year  1904,  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  21,  3-14,  on  the  divide  between  Pacoima 
and  little  Tujunga  canons.  Abandoned  at  900  feet  because  of  lost 
tools  and  flowing  water.     No  oil. 

Apex  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  drilled  three  wells,  all  close 
together,  in  section  22,  3-14.  No.  1  w^as  drilled  in  1903,  and  was  some- 
thing over  900  feet  deep.  The  casing  was  dropped  and  collapsed,  and 
the  hole  abandoned. 

"Well  No.  2  was  drilled  in  1904,  and  was  1564  feet  deep.  This  hole 
was  abandoned  because  of  lost  tools. 

Well  No.  3  was  drilled  in  1908,  and  was  abandoned  with  a  string  of 
tools  buried  in  heaving  sand  at  1320  feet.  No.  1  was  the  most  northerly 
of  these  three  wells,  all  of  which  are  in  a  north  branch  of  Little  Tujunga 
Canon.  No.  2  was  farthest  to  the  south,  and  No.  3  between  the  two,  but 
to  the  east. 


180  LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 

All  these  wells  are  said  to  have  shown  encouraging  quantities  of  oil, 
but  most  was  found  at  about  1200  feet  in  No.  3,  in  black  shale.  This 
oil  is  said  to  have  been  a  light-green  oil  of  48°  Beaume.  No  producing 
sand  was  found  in  any  of  these  wells,  the  oil  being  a  seepage  in  fine, 
close-grained  formation. 

Russian  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  drilled  in  1901, 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  same  section,  and  abandoned  at  a  depth 
of  1874  feet.  Considerable  discussion  has  taken  place  about  the  results 
from  this  well,  some  observers  reporting  that  the  well  went  into  a  hard 
dark  granite  at  the  bottom,  and  was  entirely  barren,  while  others, 
equally  competent  to  judge,  state  that  the  last  drillings  were  of  a 
blackish  shale,  and  that  the  well  at  times  baled  several  gallons  of  a  light- 
green  oil,  similar  in  appearance  to  that  obtained  in  Apex  No.  3.  The 
discrepancy  cannot  now  be  reconciled. 

Tujunga  Oil  Company.  In  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  25,  3-14, 
on  the  south  side  of  Little  Tujunga  Caiion,  this  company  drilled  a 
shallow  hole  in  the  year  1900.  This  well  was  abandoned  at  450  feet,  and 
had  a  slight  seepage  of  oil. 

Boston  Petroleum  Company — Canon  Oil  Company.  A  well  was 
started  by  the  former  company  in  the  year  1904,  near  the  center  of 
section  33,  3-13,  on  the  north  side  of  Big  Tujunga  Caiion.  This  well 
was  suspended  at  a  depth  of  1060  feet,  but  was  left  cased  and  with  the 
rig  standing.  In  the  next  year  the  Canon  Oil  Company  carried  the  hole 
down  to  a  total  depth  of  1170  feet,  from  which  depth  they  baled  several 
barrels  of  a  light-colored  green  oil  of  high  gravity,  said  to  have  been  37° 
Beaume.  This  hole  was  drilled  in  very  steeply-pitched  formation,  and 
was  finally  abandoned  because  of  the  loss  of  a  string  of  tools. 

Canon  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  1906,  after  losing  the 
preceeding  well,  on  the  same  section,  but  a  little  to  the  east  and  up  the 
canon.      This  well  was  abandoned  at  600  feet  for  financial  reasons. 

This  territory  is  described  as  consisting  mainly  of  whitish  and  green- 
ish shales,  some  considerably  indurated,  and  some  layers  of  sandstone. 
No  geological  description  of  the  country  being  available,  it  is  difficult 
to  determine  whether  any  fair  prospects  exist  for  future  discoveries. 
There  is  no  question,  however,  that  at  least  three  of  the  wells,  and 
possibly  more,  obtained  enough  oil  to  warrant  further  investigation. 


LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY.  181 

RECAPITULATION. 

In  the  ten  townships  which  we  have  here  taken  as  constituting  the 
Newhall  oil  field,  we  have  a  total  of  225  wells,  of  which  77  were  pro- 
ducing, 141  had  been  abandoned,  and  7  were  drilling  in  January,  1912. 
As  these  wells  produce  several  varieties  of  oil,  and  under  widely 
different  conditions,  it  may  be  useful  to  summarize  briefly  the  results 
obtained  in  each  group. 

Township  4-17.  An  attempt  was  made  here  to  extend  the  producing 
strip  found  north  of  the  Santa  Clara  River.  Three  abandoned  wells, 
with  some  indications  of  oil,  no  work  under  way  at  present. 

Townships  5-17  and  5-16 — Castaic.  Three  abandoned  wells  and  one 
rig  working  in  the  canon  of  Castaic  Creek.  One  of  the  abandoned  wells 
found  some  oil. 

Pico  Caiion.  Has  been  producing  oil  since  1875.  At  present  there 
are  43  producing  wells,  33  abandoned,  and  2  drilling.  Present  annual 
production  between  90,000  and  100,000  barrels  of  high-grade  refining 
oil,  averaging  nearly  40°  Beaume  in  gravity.  Average  daily  production 
per  well  about  6  barrels. 

DeWitt  Canon.  Seven  abandoned  wells,  some  of  which  obtained  some 
oil.     No  work  has  been  done  for  several  years. 

Towsley  Canon.  Twelve  abandoned  wells,  several  of  which  produced 
small  quantities  of  oil,  and  one  is  now  supplying  fuel.  One  drilling-rig 
working.     No  production. 

Wiley  Canon.  Has  been  producing  oil  since  about  1900.  There  are 
now  7  producing  wells,  8  abandoned,  and  2  drilling.  Present  annual 
production  probably  from  8000  to  10,000  barrels.  Oil  is  of  refining 
grade,  but  somewhat  heavier  than  that  of  Pico  Caiion.  Average  daily 
production  per  well  in  the  neighborhood  of  3J  barrels. 

Eice  Caiion.     Ten  we^ls  have  been  drilled  in  this  caiion,  some  of  which 
showed  oil,  but  all  are  now  abandoned  and  no  work  is  being  done. 
East  Caiion.     Two  abandoned  wells,  slight  indication  of  oil. 
Learning  Canon.     Two  abandoned  wells,  no  indications  of  oil. 
Elsmere  and  Neivhall  Canons.     In  this  group  there  are  twenty-five 
producing  wells,  twenty-four  abandoned,  no  new  work  being  done.     The 
present  annual  production  is  about  44,000  barrels,  but  could  probably 
be  increased  to  60,000  barrels  or  more,  as  a  number  of  these  wells  have 
not  been  worked  to  their  capacity.     The  output  is  a  heavy  fuel  oil, 
averaging:  about  14°  Beaume,  and  very  similar  to  the  heavier  grades  of 
Los  Angeles  City  crude.     Under  present  conditions  the  average  daily 
output  of  these  wells  is  about  5  barrels  each. 

Mud  Springs  Caiion.  Here  there  are  6  abandoned  wells,  and  2  pro- 
ducing.    Present  annual  production  perhaps  5000  barrels,  or  about  7 


182  LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 

barrels  per  day  per  well.  This  is  a  heavy  oil,  of  two  grades,  though 
much  lighter  oil  was  found  in  some  of  the  abandoned  wells. 

South  Slope.  On  the  south  side  of  the  San  Fernando  range  seven 
wells  have  been  drilled,  all  abandoned.  Some  showed  small  quantities 
of  oil,  but  none  indicated  prospects  for  production. 

Placenta.  In  this  cafion  there  are  twelve  abandoned  wells,  and  one 
rig  working.  Several  of  these  wells  gave  a  small  output  of  white  oil  of 
some  43°  gravity. 

Townships  5-15  and  4-15.  In  these  two  townships  four  wells  have 
been  drilled,  only  one  of  which  gave  any  direct  indications  of  oil.  All 
abandoned,  and  no  work  done  for  several  years. 

Tujunga.  Eight  wells  have  been  drilled  in  this  territory,  several  of 
which  gave  small  yields  of  light-green  oil.     All  are  now  abandoned. 

QUALITY  OF  NEWHALL  OILS. 

Newhall  produces  many  varieties  of  crude,  ranging  from  the  lightest 
to  the  heaviest.  But  one  sample  is  available  from  Castaic.  This  is  a 
moderately  light-green  oil,  and  as  it  flows  from  the  well  contains  little 
naptha,  though  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  quality  is  depreciated. 

The  Pico  Caiion  oil  averages  38°  Beaume,  and  is  an  extremely  volatile 
oil,  giving  high  gasoline  yields,  much  kerosene,  very  little  asphalt  and 
almost  no  lubricants.     This  is  a  very  limpid  greenish-black  oil. 

The  single  sample  from  DeWitt  Canon  is  a  blackish  oil  of  about  25°, 
giving  no  gasoline,  and  probably  depreciated  by  exposure. 

The  Towsley  Canon  oils  are  said  to  be  of  similar  quality,  but  no 
samples  could  be  had. 

The  oil  from  Wiley  Canon  is  about  30°  Beaume,  and  gives*  less 
gasoline  and  more  asphalt  than  the  Pico  oils. 

Rice  Canon  is  said  to  yield  an  oil  similar  to  that  of  Wiley.  No 
samples  could  be  had. 

The  Elsmere  oil  is  a  thick,  black,  asphaltic  oil,  ranging  from  11°  to 
18°  Beaume.  The  yield  of  asphalt  from  this  oil  is  not  large  for  the 
gravity,  and  the  analysis  is  poor  in  all  cases. 

The  white  oil  of  Placerita  is  described  in  full  in  Chapter  XX.  It  is 
water-white,  very  limpid,  contains  no  gasoline  nor  asphalt,  and  appears 
to  consist  largely  of  aromatic  hydrocarbons. 

The  following  analyses,  while  some  localities  are  not  represented, 
probably  cover  the  range  of  values  very  completely : 

44Sl.t 

Rose  Oil  Company.     Castaic.     Well   No.  1. 

Gravity 25.3°  Beaumg 

This  is  a  limpid  and  rather  pale  oil,  of  a  strong  green  color,  with  a  very  sweet  and 
rather  flat  odor.  This  sample  was  taken  from  an  abandoned  well  (the  only  well  in 
this  vicinity  which  found  oil),  and  though  the  oil  is  flowing  from  a  closed  casing,  is 
probably  somewhat  depreciated  from  its  original  condition. 


tAnalysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY.  183 

LUstillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

Pirst  cut ' —  15.3  per  cent  43.0°  Beaume 

Second   cut   33.S  per  cent  33.0° 

Third   cut   48.1  per  cent  23.7° 

Fixed  carbon   2.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
Ou  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  inert  gas,  and  calculation 
of  the  carbon  to  "D"  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  had: 

Gasoline    Gl°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  17.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  30.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   29.8°  21.6  per  cent  ,  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 13.6°  24.4  per  cent  \  23.7° — 46.0% 

Asphalt   "D"  7.0  per  cent  or  24.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  kerosene  ran  with  a  good  color,  and  treated  out  readily  to  a 
ivater-white  and  sweet  oil.  The  stove  oil  contained  some  hydrogen 
^ulfid,  but  on  treatment  gave  a  sweet  oil.  The  lubricating  stock  gave 
a  reduced  oil  of  a  rich  green  and  pale  color,  but  almost  solid  with 
paraffin. 

This  is  an  interesting  sample,  being  the  only  representative  of  the 
possible  oils  in  the  formation  north  of  the  river  and  east  of  the  Temescal. 
It  is  very  likely  that  as  it  exists  in  the  sands,  it  contained  some  engine 
distillate,  and  possibly  gasoline.  On  the  other  hand,  both  in  appearance 
and  in  analysis  it  closely  resembles  the  valueless  green  oils  of  the  Ex- 
Mission,  except  for  the  paraffin,  which  is  not  found  in  these  oils.  The 
presence  of  this  substance  makes  it  probable  that  the  oil  is  not  naturally 
so  "dead"  as  is  shown  by  the  analysis,  but  has  been  partly  evaporated 
in  the  casing. 

7468.* 
Standard   Oil   Company.     Pico   No.  2. 

Gravity 31.8°  Beaume  (0.865  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1885,  when  this  well  was 
about  ten  years  old.    The  well  is  said  to  have  been  700  feet  deep,  but  to  have  drawn 
its  oil  from  close  to  the  surface. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  was  distilled  from  a  copper  retort,  without  the  use  of 
either  steam  or  gas.  Distillation  was  carried  up  to  a  temperature  of 
300°  C,  but  the  properties  of  the  residue  were  not  noted. 

Below  150°   C 10.6  per  cent  49.2°  Beaume 

150  to  200° 20.6  per  cent  45.0° 

200   to  250° 16.2  per  cent  38.1° 

2.50   to   300° 11.3  per  cent  33.1° 

Residue   41.3percent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  W.  D.  Johnston. 


184 


LOS  an(!i:le.s  county. 


This  is  equivalent  to  the  following  partial  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  r>.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  43.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  11.0  per  cent 

Residue 41.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

7469.* 
Standard  Oil  Company.     Pico  Canon.       H.  &  S.  Well  No.  3. 

Gravity 35..5°  Beaumg   (0.84G  sp.  gr.> 

This  sample  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  188G,  when  the  well  was 
three  years  old.  The  hole  was  1550  feet  deep,  and  drew  its  oil  from  shale  under 
hard  shells. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  was  distilled  from  a  copper  retort  without  the  use  of 
either  steam  or  gas.  Distillation  was  carried  up  to  a  temperature  of 
500°  C,  but  the  properties  of  the  residue  were  not  noted. 

Below  100°  C 11.2  per  cent  G3.6°   Beaume 

100   to   125° 9.3  per  cent  5G.1° 

125   to   150° 9.5  per  cent  .50.6° 

1.50   to   200° 1.3.6  per  cent  44.6° 

200  to   250° 13.4  per  cent  .36.5° 

250   to  300° 8.8  per  cent  30.9° 

Residue   34.2  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  closely  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaumg           18.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  11.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  2.3.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  IG.O  per  cent 

Residue 32.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


5484. t 
Standard   Oil    Company.     Pico   No.   4. 

Gravity 37.3°  Beaume 

Viscosity  at  60°  P 1.40  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°  F ' 1.07  Redwood 

Flash Below  60°  P..  Abel-Pensky  test 

Sulfur 0.28  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 20.0.54  British  thermal  units 

♦Analysis  by  TV.  D.  Johnston. 
> ,  tAnalysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


185 


DistiUation. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below    212°    F 10.5  per  cent  57.3°  Beaume 

212   to  302° 20.4  per  cent  53.0° 

302   to  302° 13.8  per  cent  44.1° 

392   to  482° 13.0  per  cent  37.5° 

482   to   572° 11.1  per  cent  32.7° 

572°    to   grade — a 16.9  per  cent  27.9° 

572°    to   grade— b 6.8  per  cent  30.5° 

Asphalt    6.8  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss 0.7  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 

These   figures   are   closely   equivalent 
analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume 

Engine  distillate 52° 

Kerosene 42° 

Stove  oil 33° 

Middlings  and  lubricants 28.4° 

Asphalt "D" 

Loss 


to   the   following   commercial 


6.0  per  cent 
29.0  per  cent 
13.0  per  cent 
29.0  per  cent 
15.5  per  cent  (not  separated) 

6.8  per  cent  or  23.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

0.7  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 
7471.* 
Standard  Oil  Company.     Pico  No.  9. 
Gravity 37.5°  Beaume  (0.836  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1886,  when   this  well   was 
four  years   old.     This   hole   was   then   producing   thirty-five   barrels   daily   from    the 
bottom  of  the  hole,  1550  feet,  but  has  since  been  abandoned. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  was  distilled  from  a  copper  retort  without  the  use  of 
steam  or  gas.  Distillation  was  carried  to  .500°  C,  but  the  properties  of 
the  residue  were  not  noted. 

Below  100°  C 13.1  per  cent  67.1°  Beaum^ 

100  to   125° 6.5  per  cent  58.4° 

125   to  150° 10.0  per  cent  .53.2° 

150   to   200° 13.6  per  cent  46.3° 

200   to   250° 12.4  per  cent  38.9° 

250   to  300° 7.2  per  cent  33.5° 

Residue    37.2  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 
This  is  closely  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  28.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  2.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  27.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  6.0  per  cent 

Residue 37.0  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  W.  D.  Johnston. 


IbO  LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 

7472.* 

Standard    Oil    Company.     Pico    No.    13. 

Gravity 38.3°  Beaume  (0.832  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  was  collected  aud  analyzed  iu  the  year  1886,  when  this  well  was 
three  years  old.  This  was  the  hole  which  was  known  as  the  "paraffin  well,"  as  much 
solid  paraffin  separated  from  the  oil,  and  collected  on  the  sucker  rods  and  in  the 
tubing.  In  this  year  it  was  producing  forty  barrels  per  day  from  a  depth  of  1600 
feet. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  was  distilled  from  a  copper  retort  without  the  use  of 
steam  or  gas.  Distillation  was  carried  to  300°  C,  but  the  properties  of 
the  residue  were  not  recorded. 

Below  100°  C 9.7  per  cent  66.3°  Beaume 

100   to  125° 8.8  per  cent  58.7° 

125   to   150° 6.0  per  cent  54.0° 

150   to   200° 12.0  per  cent  48.8° 

200   to   250° 11.2  per  cent  42.4° 

2.50   to  300° 13.0  per  cent  36.6° 

Residue    39.3  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

This  is  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  23.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  2.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  36.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  None 

Residue 39.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

7444.t 
Standard  Oii  Company.       Pico  Canon  Wells.     Average  sample. 

Gravity 38.5°  Beaume 

This  is  a  very  limpid  and  light-colored,  brownish  oil,  with  a  sweet,  fragrant  odor. 
Distillation. 
A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  without  steam  or  gas.     Distillation 
carried  to  dry  coke.     Little  or  no  decomposition  of  the  crude  in  distillation, 
except  at  the  very  last  end. 

First  cut 19.1  per  cent  .59.4°  Beaume 

Second  cut 22.9  per  cent  47.7° 

Third  cut 34.8  per  cent  34.3° 

Fourth  cut 20.1  per  cent  31.1° 

Fixed  carbon 3.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  W.  D.  Johnston. 
tAnalysls  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


LOS    ANGELES   COUNTY.  18 


There  was  no  lubricating  stock  from  this  crude,  which  runs  entirely 

to  light  products  and  middlings.     On  calculation  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  15.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  13.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42"  IS.O  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  30.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  31°  15.2  per  cent 

Asphalt "D"  7.8  per  cent  or  27.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  were  extremely  sweet,  and  came  from  the  still 
almost  water  white.  This  is  a  peculiarly  clean  and  refinable  oil,  though 
a  characteristic  "asphalt  base"  oil,  and  almost  free  from  paraffin. 

Several  of  the  succeeding  analyses  are  much  more  accurate  in  the 
separation  of  the  light  products. 

7473.* 

standard   Oil   Company.     Pico  Canon.     San    Fernando   No.   1. 

Gravity 38.6°  Beaume  (0.830  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1886,  when  this  well  was  four 
years  old.  The  hole  was  then  doing  twenty  barrels  per  day,  from  a  depth  of  1176 
feet. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  was  distilled  from  a  copper  retort,  using  neither  steam 
nor  gas.  Distillation  was  carried  to  300°  C,  but  the  properties  of  the 
residue  were  not  noted. 

Below  100°  C 17.3  per  cent  64.4°  Beaume 

100   to  125° 11.0  per  cent  55.9° 

125  to   150° 9.4  per  cent  50.4° 

150   to  200° 13.3  per  cent  44.3° 

200  to  250° 10.6  per  cent  36.9° 

250  to  300° 6.8  per  cent  31.8° 

Residue    31.6  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  28.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  5.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  28.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  5.0  per  cent 

Residue - 34.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


•Analysis  by  W.  D.  Johnston. 


188 


LOS    ANGELES   COUNTY. 


7470.* 
Standard   Oil    Company.     Pico   No.   4. 

Gravity 39.7°  Beaum6   (0.825  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  ISSO,  when  this  well  was  ten 
years  old.  It  was  then  doing  thirty  barrels  per  day  at  1,000  feet,  but  has  since  been 
deepened. 

Disiillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  was  distilled  from  a  copper  retort  without  the  use  of 
either  steam  or  gas.  The  distillation  was  carried  to  300°  C,  but  the 
properties  of  the  residue  were  not  noted. 

Below  100°  C 9.1  per  cent  69.4°  Beaumg 

100  to   125° 10.4  per  cent  59.4° 

125   to   150° 9.3  per  cent  53.7° 

150   to  200° 13.4  per  cent  47.9° 

200  to  250° 13.9  per  cent  40.9° 

250    to   300° 8  3  per  cent  35.3° 

Residue    35.G  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  closely  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  28.0  per  cent 

Engine   distillate 52°  1.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  36.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil  __-- 33°  None 

Residue 35.0  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 
7474.* 
Standard   Oil   Company.      DeWitt  Canon.      H.  &  S.   No.   1. 

Gravity 2.3.8°  Beaume  (0.910  sp.  gr.> 

This  sample  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1886,  when  this  hole  had  been 
drilled  and  abandoned  about  four  years.     It  was  then,  as  now,  flowing  slowly,  from 
a  depth  of  about  1,000  feet. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  wa.s  distilled  from  a  copper  retort,  using  neither  steam 
nor  gas.  Distillation  wa.s  carried  to  300°  C,  but  the  properties  of  the 
residue  were  not  recorded. 

Below  150°  C 6.6  per  cent  54.9°  Beaume 

1.50    to    200° 11.2  per  cent  47.9° 

200   to  2.50° 7.0  per  cent  40.5° 

2.50   to   .300° 8.8  per  cent  35.5° 

Residue    66.4  per  cent  Not  recorded 

100.0  per  cent 

Thi.s  is  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  14.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  11.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  10.0  per  cent 

Residue 65.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  "W.  D.  Johnston. 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


189 


7446." 

Standard  Oil   Company.     Wiley  No.  6. 

Gravity 29.9°   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  60°   F 2.21  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 1.22  Redwood 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°  F 2.9  per  cent  61.8°  Beaume 

212   to  302° 17.4  per  cent  50.6° 

302   to  392° 10.3  per  cent  42.3° 

392   to  482° 10.3  per  cent  36.5° 

482   to  572° 13.5  per  cent  31.6° 

572  to  grade — a 20.8  per  cent  28.2° 

572  to  grade — b 9.5  per  cent  26.8° 

Asphalt    10.9  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss   4.4  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These   figures   are   closely   equivalent  to   the   following   commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  3.8  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  13.3  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  19.3  per  cent 

Stove  oil 30.4°  20.4  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 27.7°  31.S  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  11.4  per  cent,  or  40  lb.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
7440.* 
Santa   Ana   Oil   Company.     Newhall   Canon.     Well   No.  2. 

Gravity 11-7°   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 4.75  Redwood 

Sulfur : 0-69  per  cent  by  weight 

Calorific  value -■ 18,481  British  thermal  units 

Distillatio7i. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  still  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  482°  F 12.8  per  cent  34.5°  Beaume 

482   to   572° 16.8  per  cent  26.1° 

572°   to  grade — a 37.0  per  cent  24.0° 

572°   to  grade — b 6.7  per  cent  27.1° 

A.sphalt    22.6  per  cent  Grade  "D"(?) 

Loss 4.1  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 
These  figures   are  roughly   equivalent   to  the   following   commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  15.0  per  cent  (about) 

Middlings  and  lubricants 24.9°  (50.4  per  cent,  not  separated 

Asphalt    "D"  (?)  24.6  per  cent,  or  86.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
This  oil  has  no  refining  value  except  for  the  manufacture  of  asphalt. 
It  is  probable  that  the  asphalt  percentage  stated  is  too  Ioav. 

♦Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


190  LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 

7442.* 

Standard    Oil    Company.      Elsmere    Canon.     A    well. 

Gravity 14.5"   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 4.75  Redwood 

Sulfur 0.72  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 18,662  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  still,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  482°  F 11.5  per  cent  33.5°  Beaum6 

482   to   572° 12.2  per  cent  2G.1° 

572°   to  grade— a 36.5  per  cent  23.2° 

572°   to  grade — b 6.8  per  cent  25.4° 

Asphalt    28.3  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Water  and   loss 4.7  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These   figures   are   closely   equivalent  to  the   folloAving   commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  13.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 24.1°  57.7  per  cent,  not  separated 

Asphalt "D"  29.3  per  cent,  or  102.8  lbs.  per  bbL 

100.0  per  cent 

7445.* 

Standard  Oil   Company.     Elsmere  No.  2. 

Gravity 14.8'   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 4.13  Redwood 

Sulfur 0.62  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 18,700  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  the  u.se  of  steam 
or  gas. 

Below  392°  F 12.5  per  cent  34.5°  Beaume 

482   to  572° 24.7  per  cent  26.1° 

572°   to  grade — a 34.9  per  cent  24.0° 

572°   to  grade — b 2.7  per  cent  27.1° 

Asphalt    24.5  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about  i 

Loss   0.7  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  15.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 24.9°  59.8  per  cent,  not  separated 

Asphalt "D"  24.5  per  cent 

Loss 0.7  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  191 


6463.* 


Zenith   Oil   Company.     Well   No.   4. 

Gravity 16.2°  Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  heavy  blackish  oil,  with  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  300  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 7.4  per  cent  42.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 7.4  per  cent  32.8° 

Third   cut 77.4  per  cent  19.0° 

Fixed  carbon 7.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  the  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation 
of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  7.4  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  7.4  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.6°  22.4  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.2°  43.3  per  cent  j    10.0°— 65.7% 

Asphalt "D"  19.5  per  cent,  or  08.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  kerosene  from  this  oil  ran  yellow,  with  a  mild  color,  but  treated 
out  to  a  very  mild  and  sweet  water-white  oil.  The  stove  oil  also  took 
treatment  well,  and  was  pale  and  sweet. 

The  lubricating  stock  was  only  of  medium  viscosity,  and  the  reduced 
stock  rather  thin  but  of  good  color  and  fair  outer  tone,  and  free  from 
paraffin. 

4412.t 
Pearl    Oil    Company.     Newhall    Canon.     Well    No.    1. 

Gravity 17.2°   Beaume 

This   is   a   fairly   limpid,    brownish-black    oil,    of   the   odor   characteristic   of    San 
Joaquin  Valley  crude  oils. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass,  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
X  0.8)  for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are: 

Below  302°  F 21.9  per  cent  36.9°  Beaume 

302   to  518° 33.1  per  cent  25.5° 

Residue    45.6  per  cent  Liquid  asphalt,   semi-solid 

100.6  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
tAnalysls  by  J.  P.  P. 


192 


PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 


After  evaporation  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  these  figures  are  very 
roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Bcaum4  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  10.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  12.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants .55.1  per  cent,  not  separated 

Asphalt "D"  22.9percent,  or80.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

In  this  connection  see  a  large  scale  analysis  of  Zenith  crude  in  Chapter 
XXII.  The  low  temperature  at  which  the  first  fraction  of  37°  Beaume 
came  over  is  remarkable. 

7441.* 
Pearl  Oil   Company.     Well   No.  2. 

Gravity 17.8°   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  60°   F 48.37  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  18.5°   F 4.75  Redwood 

Flash  point 96°  F..  Abel-Pensky  test 

Sulfur 0.49  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 18,8.30  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  di.stilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  .steam  or  gas. 

Below  302°  F 1.2  per  cent  49.7°  Beaume 

302  to  392° 8.0  per  cent  41.4° 

392   to  482° 11.2  per  cent  32.4° 

482   to   .572° 21.0  per  cent  25.8° 

572°   to  grade — a 24.0  per  cent  21.4° 

572°   to  grade — b 10.8  per  cent  24.1° 

Asphalt 22.7  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss 1.1  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 

These   figures    are   closely   equivalent 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume 

Engine  distillate 52° 

Kerosene 42° 

Stove  oil 33° 

Middlings  and  lubricants 23.7° 

Asphalt "D" 

Loss   — 


to  the   following   commercial 


None 
None 

9.5  per  cent 
10.0  per  cent 
56.7  per  cent,  not 
22.7  per  cent,  or  79.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

1.1  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 


D.   A.   Connel 


2462.t 
Mud   Springs   Canon. 


Lease   Average. 


Gravity 


Beaume 


This  is  a  rather  thick,  brown-black  oil,  with  a  slisht  -reeuish  tint  and  a  sweet  odor. 


Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 
Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


LOS    AXGELES    COUNTY.  193 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in  a  current  of  inert  gas.     Distilla- 
tion carried  to  dryness. 

Fir.-jt  cut 21.0  per  cent  30.9°  Beaume 

Second   cut   72.0  per  cent  19.8° 

Fixed  carbon   G.4  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

Ou  reduetion  of  the  second  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Oasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

JEugine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  16.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate   24.9°  24..5  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock Solid  43.-3  per  cent  ^    19.8° — 68.0% 

Asphalt "D"  16.0  per  cent,  or  56.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  distillation  on  a  larger  scale  this  oil  would  probably  show  a  little 
kerosene  but  uot  enough  to  be  of  value.  The  heavy  end  of  the  oil  is 
xinsuited  to  the  manufacture  of  ordinary  lubricants  because  of  the  large . 
amount  of  paraffin. 

5483.* 
Standard  Oil  Company.     Elsmere  Canon.     A  well. 

Gravity  18.1°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  thick,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  sweet  and  rather  sulfurous 
odor. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled   from  copper  in   a   current  of  gas.     Distillation 
carried  to  dryness. 

First  cut 15.0  per  cent  30.5°  Beaume 

Second  cut   75.8  per  cent  14.5° 

Fixed  carbon   9.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  lubricating  stock  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calcula- 
tion of  the  fixed  carbon  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

■Gasoline 01°   Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  11.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate    30.5°  19.1  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.5°  46.9  per  cent  \    20.4°— 66.0% 

Asphalt   "D"  2.3.0  per  cent,  or  70.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 


100.0  per  cent 


Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 

14—63 


194  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

In  spite  of  the  very  low  gravity  of  the  reduced  stock  from  this  oil 
it  has  but  little  viscosity,  and  is  bluish  and  of  a  dark  color.  This  crude 
appears  to  have  no  refining  possibilities  whatever. 

5489.* 
Nettleton  &  Kellerman  Oil  Company.     Mud  Springs  Cafion.     Well  No.  2. 

Gravity 30.6°   Beaum4 

This  is  a  very  limpid  and  light-colored  oil,  with  a  strong  green  tone,  and  having  a 
mild  and  sweet  odor.     This  well  found  two  grades  of  oil,  the  lighter  being  beneath. 
This  sample  was  obtained  from  the  inner  casing,  in  which  the  oil  rises  almost  to  the 
surface,  and  the  oil  as  obtained  has  probably  lost  some  gasoline. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 18.6  per  cent  52.1°  Beaume 

Second   cut   9.1  per  cent  42.8° 

Third   cut 29.6  per  cent  30.0° 

Fourth  cut 39.5  per  cent  23.1° 

Fixed  carbon 3.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  calculation  of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  and  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in 
a  current  of  gas,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  had : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  18.6  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  10.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  22.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.7°  16.6  per  cent  )  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock Solid  24.8 percent^    23.1°— 41.4% 

Asphalt "D"  8.0  per  cent,  or  28.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  were  of  the  best  quality,  white  and 
sweet,  and  needed  little  treatment.  The  last  end  of  the  lubricating 
stock  ran  solid  from  the  still,  as  did  also  the  end  of  the  fuel  distillate, 
on  reduction.  The  reduced  stock  was  hard  and  crystalline,  not  pasty 
as  is  usually  the  case  with  stocks  containing  paraffin. 

This  oil  comes  very  close  to  being  a  "paraffin  base"  oil,  and  in  this 
respect  differs  notably  from  most,  at  least,  of  the  very  similar  appearing 
oils  of  Pico  Canon. 


♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


LOS    ANGELES    CITY    FIELD.  195 


CHAPTER  XI. 


LOS  ANGELES  CITY  FIELD. 

The  oil  field  of  Los  Angeles  City  was  discovered  eight  years  previous 
to  the  opening  of  the  Kern  River  field,  and  is  still  producing  profitable 
quantities  of  oil.  Because  of  its  very  limited  area,  the  output  of  this 
field  was  never  of  the  first  importance,  but  its  effect  on  the  industry  as 
a  whole  is  measured  by  the  large  number  of  persons  directly  engaged  in 
oil  production,  and  by  the  attention  attracted  by  the  peculiar  location  of 
the  field,  rather  than  the  value  of  its  production. 

The  output  of  the  City  field  has  greatly  declined,  as  is  but  natural 
considering  its  age,  and  the  number  of  wells  in  operation  has  much 
diminished.  In  all,  some  1300  wells  appear  to  have  been  drilled  in  this 
very  limited  area,  of  which  the  larger  part,  at  least  1100,  have  been  at 
one  time  productive.  Of  this  number  but  393  are  now  producing,  so 
that  while  the  average  output  per  well  is  lessening  but  slowly,  the  total 
output  is  greatly  decreased. 

The  large  number  of  w^ells  crowded  into  this  narrow  field,  and  the 
relatively  small  importance  of  each  as  a  producer,  makes  it  inadvisable 
to  handle  this  field  in  the  manner  elswhere  adopted  in  this  work.  The 
following  remarks  will  therefore  be  confined  to  a  brief  resume  of  the 
history  and  geology  of  the  field,  taken  mainly  from  older  works. 
Topography. 

The  city  of  Los  Angeles  is  situated  at  the  northern  apex  of  a  plain, 
bounded  at  the  north  and  northwest  by  the  Santa  Monica  Mountains, 
and  on  the  northeast  by  the  Puente  hills.  The  Los  Angeles  River  enters 
this  plain  at  the  north,  and  flows  due  south  to  the  ocean,  while  San 
Gabriel  River  enters  at  the  northeast  and  takes  a  parallel  course  at  a 
very  short  distance. 

West  of  the  mouths  of  these  rivers  lie  two  ranges  of  high  hills,  the 
San  Pedro  and  Redondo  ranges,  both  parallel  and  closely  adjacent  to  the 
coast.  Between  these  ranges  and  the  Santa  i\Ionica  Mountains  the  Los 
Angeles  plain  reaches  to  the  coast,  which  here  bends  to  the  north.  The 
drainage  of  this  plain  is  thus  in  two  directions — to  the  south  and  south- 
east through  Los  Angeles  River,  and  to  the  west  through  Ballona  Creek 
and  smaller  watercourses.  The  watershed  is  along  a  line  ranging  north- 
east from  a  point  near  Westlake  Park,  and  thus  falls  nearly  in  the 
center  of  that  portion  of  the  city  lying  west  of  the  river. 

The  northern  portion  of  the  city  of  Los  Angeles,  and  that  portion  in 
which  the  oil  measures  were  found,  is  situated  on  a  rolling  table-land 
slightly  over  two  hundred  feet  above  sea-level,  and  immediately  at  the 
foot  of  a  minor  range  of  hills  which  juts  out  in  a  southeasterly  direction 


196  TETROLEUM    JK    SOUTHERX    CALIFORNIA. 

from  the  end  of  the  Santa  ]\Tonica  range.  West  of  Vermont  avenue  the 
plain  slopes  gently  away  to  the  ocean  at  Santa  Monica,  being  interrupted 
only  by  the  low  and  rolling  Beverly  hills.  East  of  Vermont  avenue 
the  ground  is  rougher,  consisting  of  the  rounded  spurs  of  the  Elysian 
Park  hills,  the  tendency  of  the  ravines  here  is  toward  the  south,  and  the 
level  plain  is  nowhere  distant  more  than  a  few  blocks  from  the  line  of 
wells. 

The  Elysian  Park  hills,  so  called  from  the  park  in  which  they  occur, 
are  cut  through  by  the  Los  Angeles  River,  but  reappear  on  the  east  side, 
in  that  portion  of  the  city  known  as  Boyle  Heights.  Still  farther  to  the 
east  San  Gabriel  River  cuts  through  the  hill  range,  which  to  the  east  of 
this  river  is  known  as  the  Puente  Range.  Though  interrupted  by  the 
narrow  and  plainly  eroded  valleys  of  these  two  rivers,  the  Elysian 
Park  and  Rapetto  hills  are  but  a  continuation  of  the  Puente  hills,  and 
though  apparently  broken  by  local  irregularities  of  formation,  the  Los 
Angeles  oil  fields  are,  in  the  broader  sense,  a  continuation  of  the  Whit- 
tier  and  Fullerton  fields. 

The  most  westerly  group  of  wells  on  the  Los  Angeles  plain  is  located 
in  the  Beverly  hills,  from  which  it  takes  its  name.  Farther  to  the. east, 
and  south  of  the  towTi  of  Sherman,  lie  the  Salt  Lake  w^ells,  covering  an 
area  some  three  miles  east  and  west  by  about  one  mile  north  and  south. 
These  two  groups  are  usually  considered  as  one  field,  under  the  name 
"Salt  Lake,"  or  ''Sherman"  field. 

Northeast  of  the  Salt  Lake  wells,  and  clue  south  of  Colegrove  Station, 
a  small  group  of  wells  was  drilled,  which  belong  properly  to  the  Salt 
Lake  group,  as  they  drew  their  oil  from  the  same  sands.  These  wells 
are  now  entirely  abandoned.  Due  south  of  the  Salt  Lake  wells,  in  a 
parallel  formation,  much  prospecting  has  been  done  and  some  oil 
discovered,  but  there  is  no  production  at  present.  Both  these  groups 
will  be  considered  in  connection  with  the  Salt  Lake  field. 

East  of  the  wells,  just  mentioned  as  south  of  Colegrove,  and  occupying 
a  space  of  about  one  square  mile,  with  its  center  at  Western  avenue  and 
Temple  streets,  was  another  group  of  ninety-eight  wells,  all  now  aban- 
doned. These  wells  belong  properly  to  the  City  field  rather  than  to 
Salt  Lake,  and  will  be  considered  under  the  name  "Western  Avenue 
Wells." 

Between  Rosedale  avenue  (now  Westmoreland  street)  and  Coronado 
street,  there  was  formerly  a  large  and  compact  group  of  wells,  now 
almost  entirely  abandoned.  This  group  was  terminated  by  a  fault  zone, 
extending  across  the  producing  strip  at  its  east  end,  and  had  its  main 
axis  northwest  by  southwest.  These  wells  will  be  considered  under  the 
name  "West  Field." 

East  of  Coronado  street,  and  extending  to  the  Sister's  Hospital  on 
Sunset  boulevard,  a  narrow  strip  of  producing  territory  was  found. 


LOS    ANGELES    CITY    FIELD.  197 

This  was  terminated  at  both  ends  by  cross  faults.  It  had  an  east  and 
west  axis,  and  dipped  sharply  to  the  south.  The  eastern  end  of  this 
strip  is  now  exhausted  and  abandoned,  but  the  central  and  western 
portions  are  still  producing.  This  strip  was  known  originally  as  the 
Second  Street  Park  field,  later  as  the  Central  field  or  Old  field. 

East  of  Sunset  boulevard,  another  strip  along  the  same  axis  was 
developed,  and  proved  up  almost  to  Los  Angeles  River,  where  it  ter- 
minated .in  another  cross  fault.  The  axis  of  this  strip  bore  somewhat 
north  of  east,  and  the  sands  dipped  mainly  to  the  south.  Most  of  the 
wells  in  this  strip  are  yet  producing.     This  is  known  as  the  East  field. 

East  of  the  river  considerable  prospecting  was  done  over  Boyle 
Heights  and  oil  obtained  in  several  wells,  but  no  production  was  had. 
A  single  prospect  well  is  now  being  drilled  in  this  formation,  but  east 
of  the  city  limits,  and  in  territory  elsewhere  described  under  the  head 
"Rapetto  Hills."  A  number  of  prospect  wells  were  also  drilled  both 
north  and  south  of  the  City  field,  and  some  of  these  found  oil.  but  no 
paying  quantities  Avere  discovered. 

These   various   divisions   of  the   Los   Augeles   field   will   be    briefly 
described  in  their  order,  starting  from  the  east. 
East  Los  Angeles. 

There  are  known  to  have  been  at  least  fifteen  wells  drilled  for  oil 
east  of  the  river,  and  west  of  the  present  city  limits,  but  only  scattering 
records  of  these  operations  remain,  and  it  is  probable  that  there  were 
others  which  can  not  now  be  located.  The  history  of  these  wells,  so  far 
as  it  can  be  found,  is  taken  mainly  from  Bulletins  11  and  19  of  the 
State  Mining  Bureau,  by  W.  L.  Watts. 

Bland  well.  Drilled  by  F.  E.  Bland,  on  Judson  street,  between  State 
and  Lord  streets.  Oil  is  said  to  have  been  struck  in  an  80-foot  water 
well. 

Boyle  Heights  wells.  Not  exactly  located,  but  probably  somewhere 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Brook  well.  Reported  to  have  been  300  feet 
and  600  feet  deep,  respectively,  and  to  have  had  a  showing  of  oil,  with 
much  water. 

Brook  or  Chandler  well.  Drilled  in  1894,  at  the  corner  of  Magnolia 
and  Breed  streets.  Watts  reports  ''sandy  shale  and  clay  with  oil  to 
100  feet,  bluish  mud  to  324  feet,  large  quantities  of  salt  water  at  335 
feet ;  a  good  showing  of  oil  under  a  hard  shell  at  150  feet. ' ' 

DeSoto  Oil  Company  tvell.  Drilled  in  1898,  on  Harrison  street  near 
Tremont.     Clay  shale  to  700  feet ;  no  oil. 

Far  East  Oil  Company  well.  North  of  Wabash  street,  and  just  west 
of  the  city  limits.  This  well  was  drilled  to  a  depth  of  930  feet,  and 
found  a  sand  with  water  and  traces  of  oil  between  540  and  590  feet,  but 
no  indications  below. 


198  PETEOLEUM    IN    80UTHEEN   CALIFORNIA. 

Gasson  well.  Not  located,  said  to  have  been  on  the  Hunter  tract, 
west  of  Garvanza.     Depth,  985  feet ;  water  but  no  oil, 

Headley  well.  Not  located,  said  to  have  been  a  short  distance  north 
of  Reservoir  No.  5^  depth,  840  feet;  without  any  oil. 

Hoag  «£•  Silent  well.  A  well  was  drilled  with  a  standard  rig  near 
"Wabash  and  San  Benito  street,  but  no  record  can  be  found. 

Johnson  well.  Oil  is  said  to  have  been  struck  in  a  40-foot  water  well 
at  State  and  Bailey  streets. 

Bees  ivell.  Corner  Brittania  and  Sheridan  streets.  Said  to  have 
had  shale  with  some  oil  from  403  feet  to  800  feet.  Total  depth,  825 
feet ;  casing  pinched. 

Scott  &  Loftus  No.  1.  On  St.  Louis  street,  between  Emerson  and 
Scott  streets.  This  was  the  only  actually  productive  well  drilled  east 
of  the  river.  At  560  feet  it  passed  through  a  5-foot  sand  which  proved 
on  pumping  to  be  good  for  seven  barrels  per  day  of  17°  oil.  Below  this, 
sandy  shale  to  800  feet,  sand  and  water  to  875  feet.  The  water  broke 
into  this  well  through  trouble  with  the  casing,  and  it  was  abandoned 
after  a  short  time. 

Scott  &  Loftus  No.  2.  This  well  was  on  Soto  street,  east  of  Magnolia. 
Total  depth,  803  feet,  with  much  water  but  only  traces  of  oil. 

Wilkinson  well.  Not  located,  but  said  to  have  been  a  quarter  mile 
east  of  Reservoir  No.  5.  Depth,  670  feet ;  said  to  have  shown  traces  of 
oil  at  640  feet. 

Rapid  Transit  well.  A  well  on  the  line  of  the  Rapid  Transit  Rail- 
road, a  short  distance  east  of  Mission  road  and  north  of  Bridge  street,  is 
said  to  have  had  some  oil  at  about  400  feet.  At  640  feet  a  large  quantity 
of  water  was  struck,  which  drowned  the  well. 

While  all  these  wells  are  shallow,  they  indicate  a  broken  condition  of 
the  formation,  and  the  meeting  of  large  quantities  of  water  so  close  to 
the  surface  is  not  encouraging.  No  prospecting  has  now  been  done  on 
this  side  of  the  city  for  a  long  time,  and  the  increase  in  real  estate  values 
in  the  more  easterly  portion  of  this  area  has  been  such  that  none  is  likely 
to  be  attempted  in  the  future. 
East  Field. 

The  first  well  in  the  group  known  as  the  East  field  was  drilled  by  the 
Maier  &  Zobelein  Brewing  Company,  at  the  corner  of  Adobe  and  College 
streets,  in  November,  1896.  This  well  being  an  excellent  producer,  the 
field  was  drilled  up  very  rapidly,  and  by  the  end  of  1897,  two  hundred 
or  more  wells  had  been  sunk. 

In  June,  1900,  Watts  reports  239  wells  east  of  Sunset  boulevard  and 
west  of  Buena  Vista  (North  Broadway),  of  which  150  were  productive, 
and  89  shut  down  or  abandoned.     The  price  of  oil  locally  was  at  this 


LOS    ANGELES    CITY    FIELD. 


199 


time  extremely  low,  which  probably  accounts  for  the  large  number  of 
wells  shut  down.  In  April,  1903,  the  records  of  the  Oil  Inspector, 
Charles  A.  Blackmar,  showed  291  wells,  of  which  272  were  producing 
and  19  abandoned. 

In  February,  1906,  Ealph  Arnold  reports  a  total  of  270  wells,  of 
which  211  were  productive  and  59  abandoned.  In  February,  1912,  a 
count  showed  a  total  of  300  welLs  in  this  division,  of  which  223  were 
productive  and  77  abandoned. 

The  formation  from  which  the  oil  of  the  East  field  is  drawn  appears 
to  consist  of  a  monocline  (or,  of  one  limb  of  an  anticline  faulted  along 
its  apex)  dipping  to  the  south.  At  both  ends,  to  the  west  at  about 
Sunset  boulevard  and  to  the  east  along  the  line  of  the  Catholic  ceme- 
tery, this  formation  is  badly  broken,  and  wells  drilled  in  this  broken 
ground,  while  usually  finding  some  oil,  get  too  much  water  to  be 
profitable. 


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Figure  27. 
Cross  section.  East  Field,  Los  Angeles  City. 

At  its  upper  edge  this  south-dipping  formation  is  bounded  by  the 
east-west  fault  along  the  apex  of  the  anticline,  the  productive  sands 
nowhere  coming  closer  to  the  surface  than  some  600  feet.  The  angle  of 
dip  varies  in  different  parts  of  the  strip.     To  the  west  it  appears  to  be 


200  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

some  35  degrees,  and  almost  due  south,  but  at  the  eastern  end  the  dip  is 
quite  irregular,  the  ea-stern  extremity  dipping  to  the  east  at  angles  run- 
ning up  to  50  degrees.  The  southern  limit  of  the  strip  is  determined 
by  water  level,  the  wells  farthest  down  the  dip  finding  water  in  sands 
which  farther  up  produce  oil.  The  variations  in  the  width  of  the 
producing  strip  appear  to  be  due  entirely  to  lack  of  parallelism  between 
the  fault  forming  the  upper  margin  and  the  line  at  which  water  is 
struck,  and  this  lack  of  parallelism  is  again  due  to  the  varying  dip  of 
the  strata  rather  than  to  variations  in  water  level  at  different  points. 

The  oils  of  this  group  were  produced  from  two  sands.  The  upper 
varies  from  50  feet  thickness  at  the  western  end  of  the  strip  to  about 
200  feet  at  the  eastern  end.  Below  this  comes  a  layer  of  clay-shale, 
varying  from  35  feet  at  the  west  end  to  105  feet  at  the  east,  and  then  a 
second  oil  sand,  said  to  be  25  feet  thick  at  the  west  end  of  the  field,  and 
nearly  100  feet  at  the  eastern  end.  The  depth  from  the  surface  to  the 
first  sand  varies  from  400  to  700  feet  in  different  parts  of  the  field,  being 
greatest  at  the  south,  and  the  total  depth  of  wells  ranges  from  500  ta 
upwards  of  1500  feet. 

The  upper  sand  is  said  to  have  produced  a  rather  light  oil.  from  18° 
to  19°  Beaume,  while  that  from  the  lower  sand  was  originally  about 
16°  Beaume.  None  of  the  lighter  oil  is  now  in  evidence,  and  it  is  said 
that  this  sand  was  rapidly  exhausted.  The  average  gravity  from  the 
lower  sand  in  this  part  of  the  field  is  now  well  below  16°,  in  fact  15" 
Beaume  (corrected  for  water)  Avould  be  nearer  the  average  of  the  out- 
put. These  wells  produce  a  great  deal  of  water,  the  larger  part  of 
which  is  free.  Some  sands  produce  red  (emulsified)  oil.  but  this  also 
settles  clear  on  steaming,  which  is  not  objectionable  to  an  oil  of  this 
gravity.  The  analysis  of  a  typical  sample  from  this  portion  of  the  field 
is  given  in  a  later  chapter. 

The  sands  of  the  East  field  are  much  less  open  than  those  of  the 
central  and  western  divisions,  and  these  wells  were  often  spoken  of  as 
' '  mud-holes. ' '  Nevertheless,  their  production  has  held  up  in  a  remark- 
able manner.  A  few  of  these  wells  started  off  at  high  figures,  up  to 
sixty  barrels  per  day,  it  is  said,  but  these  soon  fell  off,  which  is  natural 
considering  the  extent  to  which  they  were  crowded^  and  at  the  end  of 
1899  the  production  per  well  per  day  was  not  over  six  barrels,  and  prob- 
ably less  than  this.  At  this  time  the  average  age  of  these  wells  was  not 
over  two  years.  At  present,  the  average  age  being  not.  far  from  thirteen 
years,  the  production  per  well  per  day  approximates  three  barrels,  so 
that  it  appears  likely  that,  if  not  crowded  out  by  an  increase  in  real 
estate  values  (which  in  this  portion  of  the  city  does  not  appear  immi- 
nent) or  by  too  rigorous  municipal  restrictions,  these  wells  will  continue 
to  produce  at  a  profit  for  many  years  to  come. 


Soledad  Canon,  Los  Angeles  County. 


A  Portion  of  East   Field.   Los  Angeles  City. 


LOS    AKGELES    CITY    FIELD.  201 

As  to  the  abandoned  wells  in  this  portion  of  the  field,  a  few  only 
Avere  originally  failures,  but  profiting  by  the  experience  of  the  Central 
field,  and  noting  the  appearance  of  small  quantities  of  water  as  wells 
worked  down  the  dip,  an  unusually  small  number  of  barren  holes  were 
required  to  clearly  show  the  limits  of  the  productive  sands.  Such  wells 
as  have  since  been  abandoned  appear  to  have  been  allowed  to  go  for 
mechanical  rather  than  other  reasons.  In  other  words,  the  small  pro- 
duction per  well,  and  the  excessive  number  of  wells  crowded  into  this 
limited  area,  made  it  unprofitable  to  put  extensive  repairs  on  a  well  in 
any  way  damaged.  While  this  field  undoubtedly  produces  more  water 
now  than  when  first  drilled  in,  it  does  not  appear  that  water  has 
encroached  on  the  sands  to  any  alarming  extent,  nor  that  any  great 
number  of  wells  have  been  abandoned  from  this  cause. 

These  wells  are,  with  one  exception,  pumped  entirely  on  jacks,  usually 
about  eight  wells  to  a  power.  A  single  well  on  the  west  line  of  Adobe 
street,  south  of  Bernardo,  is  pumped  on  the  beam,  as  contrary  to  the 
rule  in  this  field  it  sands  badly.  The  city  authorities  discourage  the  use 
of  drilling  tools,  and  such  cleaning  as  is  required  is  done  with  a  mud- 
scow. 
Central  or  Old  Field. 

The  original  discovery  of  oil  in  the  City  field  proper  was  made  at  the 
corner  of  Patton  and  Colton  streets,  though  the  ^Maltman  and  Euhland 
wells,  in  the  western  end.  had  been  producing  at  intervals  for  some 
years.  In  1892  ]\ressrs.  Doheny  and  Connon  dug  a  shaft  at  this  location 
to  a  depth  of  155  feet,  and  striking  some  seepages,  and  too  much  gas  to 
permit  of  continued  digging,  bored  an  18-inch  hole  in  the  bottom  of  the 
shaft.  This  hole  produced  several  barrels  per  day  for  some  time,  and 
on  the  strength  of  this  showing  the  same  parties  moved  across  Colton 
street,  to  a  location  in  what  was  then  known  as  Second  Street  Park,  and 
drilled  a  producing  well.  This  portion  of  the  city  was  already  laid  out 
in  town  lots  and  partially  built  up,  and  as  each  lot  owner  figured  himself 
a  prospective  oil  magnate,  a  boom  in  drilling  resulted  which  has  prob- 
ably not  since  been  equaled,  even  in  the  palmy  days  of  ^Midway.  At  the 
end  of  the  year  1895,  three  hundred  and  eight  producing  wells  are 
reported  from  this  division  of  the  field,  in  addition  to  which  there  must 
have  been  a  number  of  failures,  no  record  of  which  can  now  be  found. 

In  June,  1900,  Watts  reports  338  producers  in  this  field,  most  of  the 
new  wells  (later  than  1895)  ha\nng  been  at  the  western  extension,  north 
of  Ocean  View  avenue  and  between  Bonnie  Brae  and  Alvarado  streets. 
Again  the  number  of  abandoned  wells  is  not  given.  In  April.  1903. 
Blackmar's  report  gives  a  total  of  537  wells  in  the  Central  field,  of 
w^hich  457  were  producing  and  80  abandoned. 

In  February,  1906,  Arnold  reports  516  wells  in  this  field,  of  which 


202  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

206  were  producing  and  310  abandoned.  This  total,  it  will  be  noted,  is 
less  than  is  given  three  years  previous,  when  a  slight  amount  of  drilling 
was  yet  in  progress,  but  as  the  count  of  producing  wells  can  not  be 
questioned,  it  may  be  assumed  that  some  of  the  older  abandoned  wells 
had  entirely  disappeared  at  this  time.  In  February,  1912,  a  count 
showed  a  total  of  522  wells,  of  which  170  were  producing,  and  352 
abandoned. 

The  formation  from  which  the  oil  of  the  Central  field  is  drawn  is 
similar  to  that  of  the  Eastern  field,  but  somewhat  more  regular.  It 
appears  to  be  a  monocline,  dipping  to  the  south  at  an  angle  of  about 
40  degrees.  On  the  north,  production  is  bounded  by  a  fault  zone,  in 
which  some  oil  was  found,  but  also  much  water.  At  the  south,  the  limit 
of  production  was  that  line  along  which  water  takes  the  place  of  the  oil 
beneath  which  it  lies.  The  width  of  the  producing  strip,  as  in  the  East 
field,  is  determined  by  the  varying  inclination  of  the  producing  sands, 
but  also,  and  in  this  unlike  the  East  field,  by  differences  in  the  absolute 
height  of  water  level  at  different  locations. 

At  the  east  the  development  of  this  strip  carried  the  wells  into  broken 
ground,  in  which  profitable  quantities  of  oil  were  found,  but  at  a  slight 
depth  and  with  much  water.  These  wells  very  soon  failed  and  were  the 
first  to  be  abandoned.  But  few  wells  now  remain  in  operation  east  of 
Lakeshore  boulevard,  and  most  of  those  once  pumped  between  this  street 
and  Sunset  boulevard  appear  to  have  been  abandoned  because  of  water. 

To  the  west,  badly  broken  ground  was  found  west  of  Quebec  street, 
and  drilling  was  very  difficult.  But  in  spite  of  bad  drilling  and  much 
water,  these  wells,  which  are  considerably  deeper  than  most  of  the  wells 
in  this  field,  were  the  best  producers  in  the  group,  and  most  of  them  are 
still  in  operation. 

The  depth  of  wells  in  this  group  ranges  from  475  feet  to  1300  feet  or 
more.  Two  producing  sands  were  found  in  this  field  also,  and  these 
seem  to  be  practically  identical  with  those  of  the  East  field.  The  upper 
sand  was  as  a  rule  about  125  feet  thick,  but  only  a  few  feet  at  the  bottom 
of  this  layer  were  productive.  The  oil  from  this  sand  sometimes  went 
as  high  as  20°  Beaume.  The  second  sand  lay  about  200  feet  below,  and 
was  usually  about  45  feet  thick.  This  sand  produced  an  oil  ranging 
from  13.5°  to  16°  Beaume,  and  was  far  richer  than  the  upper  sand. 
Below  this  stratum,  water  was  found,  and  on  going  down  the  dip,  water 
would  finally  be  found  in  the  lower  sand  while  the  upper  yet  contained 
oil ;  in  other  words,  the  water  level  appeared  to  be  at  least  approximately 
a  plane. 

At  present  most  of  the  wells  in  this  field  produce  much  water,  prob- 
ably about  as  much  as  those  of  the  East  field.  This  water  separates 
freelv  on  heating,  and  with  the  lighter  oils  on  tanking,  and  red  or  emul- 


LOS    ANGELES    CITY    FIELD.  203 

sified  oils  are  rare.     The  average  gravity  of  the  oil  from  this  field  is  now 
about  15°  Beaume.     A  typical  analysi-s  is  given  in  a  later  chapter. 

In  the  year  1895,  the  average  production  from  308  wells  was  6.5 
barrels  per  day  per  well.  In  1899,  when  the  average  age  of  wells  was 
approximately  six  years,  the  average  daily  production  per  well  is  given 
as  3.7  barrels.  During  1911,  when  the  average  age  of  these  wells  had 
reached  some  eighteen  years,  the  average  daily  production  per  well  was 
approximately  three  barrels.  It  should  be  noted,  however,  that  the  less 
profitable  wells  at  the  east  end  of  the  strip  had  been  abandoned  in  con- 
siderable numbers,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  original  production 
of  the  wells  which  now  remain  was  greater  than  the  average  above  given. 
As  these  wells  are  mainly  located  in  the  best  residence  district  in  the 
older  part  of  the  city,  it  is  not  likely  that  they  will  be  pumped  very 
much  longer. 

These  wells  never  made  any  sand  to  speak  of,  and  are  all  pumped  on 
the  jack.     On  account  of  the  restrictions  placed  on  cleaning  operations, 
many  of  these  holes  are  now  in  very  bad  condition,  and  in  many  cases  the 
depth  is  notably  less  than  when  first  drilled. 
West  Field. 

Differing  from  the  divisions  already  mentioned,  where  but  one  small 
brea  deposit  indicated  the  presence  of  oil,  the  West  field  showed  a 
number  of  seepages.  At  one  of  these,  lying  a  short  distance  west  of 
Coronado  and  south  of  First  street,  a  well  was  dug  as  early  as  1857, 
known  as  the  Dry  den  well,  from  which  considerable  quantities  of  heavy 
oil  were  baled  and  sold.  In  later  years,  probably  somewhere  about 
1890.  a  group  of  nine  wells  was  sunk  on  the  Maltman  tract,  a  short 
distance  north  of  the  Baptist  College,  and  a  group  of  twelve  on  the 
Ruhland  tract,  a  couple  of  blocks  to  the  west  of  "Westlake  Park.  A 
number  of  prospect  wells  were  drilled  at  various  times,  but  without 
success  other  than  at  these  two  locations,  and  the  production  from  these 
wells  was  too  small  to  encourage  further  developments,  so  that  no  real 
production  of  oil  was  had  at  this  end  of  the  City  field  until  after  both 
the  central  and  the  eastern  divisions  had  been  drilled  up. 

About  the  year  1899  drilling  was  carried  west  of  the  strip  of  broken 
formation  encountered  near  Coronado  street,  and  oil  found  at  a  much 
less  depth.  Developments,  as  in  the  eastern  divisions,  proceeded 
rapidly,  and  in  June.  1900,  "Watts  reports  175  producing  wells  located 
between  Coronado  street  and  Vermont  avenue,  and  also  mentions  a  dozen 
or  fifteen  located  west  of  the  latter  street,  though  there  are  probably 
others  not  mentioned.     No  count  of  the  abandoned  weUs  is  given. 

The  count  made  in  April,  1903,  stopped  at  the  city  limits,  and  so 
includes  no  wells  west  of  Vermont  avenue,  but  between  Vermont  and 
Coronado  there  were  331  wells,  of  which  268  were  productive  and  63 


204  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

abandoned.  An  examination  of  the  notes  made  at  the  time  discloses 
that  some  portions  of  this  area  were  already  l)eginning  to  fall  l)elo\v  the 
line  of  profitable  production. 

In  February,  1906,  Arnold's  map  of  the  field  shows  a  total  of  3-44 
wells  between  Rosedale  avenue  (now  Westmoreland)  and  Coronado 
street.  Of  these  75  were  producing  and  269  abandoned.  As  33  of 
these  wells  are  shown  lying  west  of  Vermont,  the  total  between  Vermont 
and  Coronado  is  but  311,  and  it  is  evident  that  some  of  the  abandoned 
M^ells  noted  in  1903  had  completely  disappeared. 

In  the  current  year  (January,  1912)  this  territory  was  visited,  but 
except  for  one  group  of  21  wells  at  Geneva  and  Commonwealth  streets, 
this  entire  area  west  of  Coronado  street  had  been  abandoned,  and  but 
few  traces  now  remain  of  the  former  presence  of  oil  wells. 

The  eastern  boundary  of  this  field  was  formed  by  the  fault  zone  at 
Coronado  street.  West  of  this  strip,  the  oil  sands  were  found  to  be 
dipping  south  by  a  little  west,  and  at  a  slight  angle.  Watts  reports 
that  just  east  of  Occidental  boulevard,  the  wells  farthest  south  went  525 
feet  to  the  sand,  and  penetrated  it  for  60  to  80  feet,  while  those  farthest 
north  encountered  the  sand  at  some  200  feet,  and  found  it  but  slightly 
over  20  feet  thick.  At  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Hoover  streets  a  well 
was  drilled  to  a  total  depth  of  1430  feet,  finding  productive  sands  at 
250  feet,  1100  feet  and  1300  feet.  This  well,  however,  found  so  much 
water  at  depth  that  its  production  was  slight.  (Arnold,  Bulletin  309.) 
North  of  Third  street  and  east  of  Juanita  the  old  Maltman  wells  found 
the  sand  at  from  140  to  285  feet,  and  southwest  of  these  w^ells  an  upper 
sand  crops,  which  is  still  seeping  a  little  oil.  The  w^ells  just  west  of 
Vermont  avenue  found  the  sand  at  depths  ranging  from  300  to  400  feet, 
while  a  well  at  Vermont  and  First  streets  found  several  sands  down  to 
depths  of  1735  feet,  but  much  more  water  than  oil.  At  the  southwest 
limit  of  this  group  drilling  was  terminated  by  reaching  w^ater  level, 
which  seems  to  have  been  about  1000  feet  below  the  surface  originally. 
Further  down  the  dip  no  oil  was  found,  but  water  only.  It  appears 
likely  that  there  w-as  also  a  fault  along  the  southern  margin,  and  that 
the  Euhland  wells,  which  were  drilled  in  a  brea  bed  and  were  all  less 
than  100  feet  deep,  were  either  in  fault  material  or  in  another  formation. 

The  oil  sands  of  this  group  appear  to  have  been  generally  from  20  to 
100  feet  thick,  but  did  not  carry  nearly  so  much  oil  as  those  farther 
east.  The  oil  also  was  heavier,  much  of  it  being  as  low  as  12^  Beaume, 
and  considerable  of  it  was  emulsified,  even  when  the  wells  were  new. 

This  field  appears  to  have  failed  by  reason  of  entrance  of  water  from 
the  lower  side,  from  which  side  it  followed  up  the  oil  as  it  was  with- 
drawn. The  upper  wells,  however,  seem  to  have  failed  by  simple  ex- 
haustion of  the  sands  which,  as  said,  were  not  originally  very  rich.     The 


LOS    AXGELES    CITY    FIELD.  205 

average  production  of  these  wells  was  never  large.  The  only  figures 
now  available  are  for  the  year  1899,  when  175  wells  produced  270,000 
barrels,  or  an  average  of  4.2  barrels  per  day  per  well  —  this  when  the 
average  age  of  wells  could  not  have  been  more  than  two  or  three  years. 
It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  more  favored  portions  of  this  area 
would  still  be  producing  at  a  profit,  were  it  not  for  the  very  great 
increase  in  real  estate  values  in  this  portion  of  the  city,  which  has  made 
it  more  desirable  to  clear  the  land  than  to  produce  small  Cjuantities  of  oil. 
Western  Avenue  Wells. 

In  the  year  1900,  when  Watts'  Bulletin  19  of  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau 
was  issued,  no  work  had  been  done  west  of  Rosedale  avenue  except  two 
shallow  holes,  not  productive,  drilled  by  Messrs.  C.  B.  Davis  and  Mitchell 
&  Stilson.  near  Western  avenue  and  Temple  road.  The  statement  is 
also  made  that  a  productive  well  had  been  drilled  farther  to  the  west 
prior  to  this  time,  and  probably  in  the  group  in  the  southeast  cjuarter 
of  section  14. 

In  1906  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  reported  12  producing  and  86 
abandoned  wells  in  the  S.W.  i  of  13.  the  X.E.  ^  of  23.  the  S.E^  ^  of  14. 
and  the  N.W.  ^  of  24.  all  in  township  1  sontb.  range  14  west.  As  no 
information  is  at  present  available  regarding  these  wells  except  such  as 
is  conveyed  in  Bulletin  309  of  the  Geological  Survey  (Los  Angeles  Dis- 
trict—  Ralph  Arnold)  the  following  is  quoted  verbatim  from  this  bul- 
letin: 

The  formations  underlying  the  area  east  of  the  corner  of  Western  avenue  and 
Temple  road  are  the  same  as  those  found  toward  the  southeast  in  the  region  of 
the  Baptist  College.  The  surface  outcrops  seem  to  indicate  that  the  dip  of  the 
beds  is  toward  the  southwest,  but  from  the  evidence  offered  by  a  group  of  welte 
just  south  of  Temple  road  one  fourth  mile  east  of  Western  avenue,  the  dip  appears 
to  be  south-southeastward  about  4  feet  in  300  feet.  This  discrepancy  is  doubtless 
due  to  the  proximity  of  the  area  to  the  axis  of  the  Los  Angeles  anticline. 

The  wells  in  the  northern  part  of  the  area,  near  Temple  road,  after  penetrating 
gravel  and  sand  for  approximately  100  feet  pass  through  alternating  clayey  shale 
and  fine  sandstone  for  about  250  feet.  At  this  depth  the  oil  sand,  which  appears 
to  be  barren  at  the  top  but  productive  below,  is  encountered  and  extends  for  35 
feet.  About  20  feet  below  this  is  a  layer  of  sand  which  yields  flowing  water.  The 
wells  in  this  part  of  the  area  yield  an  average  of  1  to  2  barrels  of  15°  oil  per  day : 
and  in  addition  considerable  quantities  of  gas  and  usually  about  2  per  cent  of  water. 

About  one  fourth  mile  to  the  southwest  down  the  dip  from  the  territory  just 
described  the  wells  reach  the  oil  sand  at  310  feet.  The  sand  is  here  40  feet  thick 
and  is  somewhat  more  productive  than  it  is  higher  up.  yielding  on  an  average  6 
barrels  per  day  per  well.  The  same  strata  were  penetrated  and  the  same  amount 
of  water  is  encountered  in  these  deeper  wells  as  in  the  wells  to  the  northeast. 

Still  farther  southwest,  about  one  half  mile  southwest  of  the  comer  of  Western 
avenue  and  Temple  road,  the  wells  strike  an  oil  sand  at  a  depth  of  about  350  feet 
which  outcrops  at  the  surfac-e  in  the  vicinity  of  the  wells  just  described.  About  350 
feet  below  this  upper  oil  sand  is  encountered  a  second  oil  zone  corresponding  to  the 
pi-oductive  sand  of  the  wells  half  a  mile  to  the  northeast.  The  strata  above  the 
flrst  sand  are  largely  clayey  and  sandy  gray  shale,  possibly  Fernando  in  part,  with 
some  harder  shale  and  '"shell"  layers  immediately  above  them.  Between  the  first 
and  second  oil  zones  are  alternating  clayey  and  sandy  shale  with  a  few  thin  layers 
of  hard  siliceous  shale  or  "sheir'  ;  isolated  accumulations  of  oil  and  gas  occur 
ihroushout  these  beds. 


206  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTIIETIN    CALIFORNIA. 

The  underground  geology  in  the  vicinity  of  the  little  group  of  wells  in  the  S.E.  i 
section  14,  T.  1  S.,  R.  14  W.,  one  fourth  mile  northwest  of  the  corner  of  Temple 
road  and  Western  avenue,  introduces  a  new  structural  factor  in  the  shape  of  a 
northeast-southwest  line  of  disturbance.  In  a  journey  westward  through  the 
western  field  this  is  the  first  evidence  encountered  of  the  secondary  zone  of  disturb- 
ance, which  to  the  southwest  develops  into  the  Salt  Lake  flexure.  The  line  of 
disturbance  or  fault  appears  to  extend  in  a  southwesterly  direction  from  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  S.E.  }  section  14,  through  a  point  SO  feet  west  of  Loma  Vista 
well  No.  .5.  and  thence  indefinitely  toward  the  Salt  Lake  field. 

East  of  this  line  of  disturbance  the  main  oil  zone,  which  is  here  from  80  to  90 
feet  thick,  is  encountered  at  a  depth  of  between  195  anc"  210  feet,  the  overlying 
beds  consisting  of  Pleistocene  sand  and  gravel  near  the  surface,  with  thin-bedded 
shale  and  fine  sandstone  below.  The  wells  yield  as  high  as, 20  barrels  per  day 
when  they  first  come  in,  but  this  production  falls  off,  and  at  t  le  end  of  two  years 
is  in  few  cases  over  2  barrels.  The  original  high  production  is  caused  by  the  gas 
pressure,  which  is  rather  strong  in  this  area.  West  of  the  line  of  disturbance 
water  is  encountered  in  the  wells  at  a  depth  of  400  feet,  but  no  oil  was  struck, 
though  one  of  the  wells  was  continued  to  580  feet. 

QUALITY    OF    CITY    FIELD    OILS. 

The  oils  of  the  City  field,  while  varying  considerably  in  gravity,  are 
uniform  in  quality,  as  is  indicated  by  the  following  analyses. 

The  large  percentages  of  light  products  and  of  asphalt  shown  by  the 
Salt  Lake  oils  are  notably  absent.  Not  a  single  sample  of  the  fifteen 
reported  here  shows  any  distillate  lighter  than  stove  oil,  though  the 
samples  cover  a  range  from  11°  to  18°  Beaume.  As  to  this  point  the 
comparison  with  Sale  Lake  oils  is  rather  striking,  as  these  oils  commence 
to  yield  a  little  kerosene  at  about  11°  Beaume  (gravity  of  crude),  and  at 
18°  usually  show  some  gasoline. 

In  respect  to  percentage  composition  the  City  oils  show  a  marked 
resemblance  to  those  of  "Whittier,  which  are  also  very  low  in  light 
products  and  asphalt.  In  both  these  cases  the  oils  appear  to  be  debased, 
being  produced  from  narrow  sands  paralleled  by  zones  of  faulting,  while 
in  Salt  Lake  the  faults  which  limit  the  productive  area  are  widely 
separated,  and  are  apparently  sealed  by  the  consolidation  of  soft  sedi- 
ments, thus  protecting  the  oils  from  degeneration  except  at  the  edges  of 
the  field. 

The  City  oils  contain  much  more  sulfur  than  those  of  Whittier,  and 
in  this  respect  approach,  though  they  do  not  equal,  those  of  the  Salt 
Lake  area.  They  are  thus  unfitted  for  gas  manufacture,  and  because  of 
the  entire  absence  of  light  products,  are  of  little  value  for  refining.  The 
lubricants  are  of  good  quality  and  in  fair  quantity,  but  the  asphalt  yield 
is  not  large,  and  lubricants  as  a  main  product  are  rarely  profitable  under 
present  market  conditions.  These  oils,  therefore,  find  their  principal 
market  as  fuel,  for  which  there  is  a  large  local  demand. 


LOS    AXGELES    CITY    FIELD.  20 < 

742S.* 
Los    Angeles    Railway    Company.     Hubbel     No.    2.      (West     Field.) 

Gravity 16.5"  Beaume 

Viscosity  at  1S5°   F 2.61  Redwood 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  4S2=  F 9.7  per  cent  32.0    Beaum6 

4S2  to  572° 15.8  per  cent  26.8° 

572°  to  grade — a 43.4  per  cent  24.2° 

572°  to  grade — b 8.2  per  cent  24.7° 

Asphalt    21.5  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    1.4  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaum6         None 

Engine   distillate   52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  None 

Stove  oil 33"  9.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 24.9°  6S.1  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  21.5  per  cent 

Loss 1.4  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
7427.* 

Westlake  Oil  Company.     Well   No.  7.     (Middle   Field.) 

Gravity 12.0°  Beaume 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 19.57  Redwood 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  572°  F 29.0  per  cent  25.0' Beaum^ 

572°  to  grade — a 31.2  per  cent  22.8° 

572°  to  grade— b 3.6  per  cent  22.6° 

Asphalt    33.1  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    3.1  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
This  is  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  None 

Engine   distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  None 

Middlings  and  lubricants 23.8°  63.8  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  33.1  per  cent 

Loss 3.1  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


•Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


208  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

6457.* 
Parker  Oil  Company.     Well   No.  30.     (Middle  Field.) 

Gravity 12.G°  Beaum6  (corrected  for  water  13.5°) 

This  is  a  thick  oil,  of  a  brownish-black  color,  and  with  a  mild  odor.     This  well  is 
located  just  west  of  the  Sisters'  Hospital,  at  the  east  end  of  the  middle  field.     The 
sample  as  received  contained  21  per  cent  of  water,  which  was  not  emulsified  and 
.settled  slowly, 
DistiUation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in  a  current  of  sas  to  a  residue  of 
dry  coke. 

First  cut „_ 20.9  per  cent  32.6°  Beaume 

Second  cut _ 08.8  per  cent  1^.7° 

Fixed   carbon   10.3  grams  pi-r  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaumg         None 

Engine  distillate   52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  20.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   __ 29.2°  17.9  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   12.5°  36.3  per  cent  \  18.7° — 54.2% 

Asphalt   "D"  25.8per  cent,  or  90.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  stove  oil  from  this  run  was  pale  and  with  slight  bloom,  but  had 
a  marked  still  odor,  which  largely  disappeared  on  treatment. 

The  lubricating  stock  had  a  good  color  and  a  rich  green  outer  tone, 
both  of  which  were  also  noted  on  the  reduced  stock.  The  viscosity  of 
the  latter  v/as  high,  and  there  was  no  paraffin.  This  appears  to  be  a 
good  grade  of  crude  for  lubricants,  but  as  usual  in  this  field,  the  yield 
of  asphalt  is  low  for  the  gravity. 


"Analysis  by  J.   P.   P. 


LOS    ANGELES    CITY    FIELD.  209 

2413.* 

Sample  from   Middle  Field. 

Gravity 13.5°  Beaumg 

Flash  point 258°   F.,  open  test 

Viscosity  at  76°  F 730.4  Engler 

Sulfur 1.08  per  cent  by  weight 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  302°  F None 

302  to  572° 10.0  per  cent 

572°   to  asphalt 59.0  per  cent 

Asphalt    31.0  per  cent  Grade  "D" 

100.0  per  cent 

Very  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline   None 

Engine  distillate None 

Kerosene    None 

Stove  oil   10  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 59  per  cent 

Asphalt  "D" 31  per  cent 

100  per  cent 


7430.t 

E.    B.   Clampltt.     Well   No.   1.     (Middle   Field.) 

Gravity 13.8°  Beaumg 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 5.40  Redwood 

Sulfur 1.30  per  cent  by  weight 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  482°  F 5.9  per  cent  32.1-^  Beaume 

482  to  572° 14.1  per  cent  27.7° 

572°  to  grade 47.2  per  cent  25.1° 

Asphalt    28.8  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Water  and  loss 4.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume         None 

Engine  distillate   52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  5.0  per  cent 

Middlings    and    lubricants 25.7°  (j2.2  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  28.8  per  cent 

Loss 4.0  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 


■Analysis  by  P.  W.   P. 
Analysis  by  H.  N.  Coopei 


15—63 


210 


PETKOLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


7429.» 

Park  Crude   Oil   Company.     Well    No.    13.      (Middle   Field.) 

Gravity 14.2=   Beaum^ 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 4.42  Redwood 

Sulfur I.IS  per  cent  by  weiglit 

Thermal  value 18,623  British   thermal   units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  w^ithout  steam  or  gas. 

Below  482°  F 6.9  per  cent  32.2°  Beaume 

482   to  572° 19.4  per  cent  20.8° 

572°  to  grade — a 39.7  per  cent  22.2° 

572°  to  grade— b 4.5  per  cent  22.8° 

Asphalt    25.3  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    4.2  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil  _____ 33°  6.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants 23.6"  64.5  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  25.3  per  cent 

Loss 4.2  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

7423.* 

I.  W.  Shirley.     Well   No.  12.     (Middle  Field.) 

Gravity 16.5°   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 2.83  Redwood 

Sulfur 0.85  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 18,787  British   thermal   units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below   482°    F 7.6  per  cent  32.3°  BeaumS 

482  to  572° 13.9  per  cent  28.2° 

572°  to  grade — a 40.0  per  cent  25.2° 

572°  to  grad^b 14.5  per  cent  24.6° 

Asphalt    21.8  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

"Water  and  loss 

100.0  per  cent 
These  figures  are  approximately  equivalent  to  the  following  commer- 
cial analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  7.0  per  cent 

Middlings    and    lubricants 25.0°  69.0  per  cent 

Asphalt "D"  21.8  per  cent 

lioss  and  water 2.2  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


100.0  per  cent 


LOS    ANGELES    CITY    FIELD.  211 


645S. 


Doran,    Brouse   &    Price.     Average.      (East    Field.) 

Gravity 11.2°   Beaumg 

Gravity  corrected  for  water 11.7° 

This  is  a  thick,  reddish-browD  oil,  containing  as  received  30  per  cent  of  water, 
very  finely  divided.     While  this  water  is  intimately  blended  with  the  oil,  it  does  not 
appear  to  be  actually  emulsified,  as  it  settles  out  on  slow  heating. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in  a  current  of  gas.     Distillation 
carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 12.9  per  cent  32.6°  Beaum§ 

Second   cut   80.0  per  cent  16.5° 

Fixed  carbon   7.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  12.5  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   28.7°  22.3  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 12.8°  47.4  per  cent  s  16.5°— 69.7% 

Asphalt   "D"  17.S  per  cent,  or  62.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  stove  oil  ran  pale  and  sweet,  and  treated  well.  The  lubricating 
and  reduced  stocks  had  a  fine  color  and  outer  tone,  and  the  high  vis- 
cosity normal  to  the  very  low  gravity.  There  was  a  faint  trace  of 
paraffin  in  the  reduced  stock,  which  commenced  to  crystallize  at  about 
75°  F. 

While  this  analysis  does  not  indicate  the  points  of  difference,  this  oil 
is  of  quite  different  constitution  from  the  adjacent  Harris  oil  (6452). 

7431.t 
Consolidated    Crude    Oil    Company.     Well     No.    2L      (East    Field.) 

Gravity 12.6°   Beaum6 

Viscosity  at  185°   F - 18-30  Redwood 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  482°  F 8.4  per  cent  32.0°  Beaume 

482   to   572° 14.0  per  cent  26.4° 

572°  to  grade — a 29.3  per  cent  25.0° 

572°  to  grade — b 17.6  per  cent  22.5° 

Asphalt    29.4  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    1.3  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
fAnalysls  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


212  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil  __ 33°  7.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 24.6°  62.3  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  29.4  per  cent 

Water  and  loss I/!  percent 

100.0  per  cent 
7425.* 
Davis   &    Harrison.     Well    No.    10.     (East    Field.) 

Gravity 13.2°  Beaumg 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 11.96  Redwood 

Sulfur 0.49  per  cent  by  vi^eight 

Thermal  value 18,164  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  572°  F 17.1  per  cent  27.1°  Beaum6 

572°  to  grade— a 43.6  per  cent  24.1° 

572°  to  grade— b 8.3  per  cent  23.2° 

Asphalt    28.3  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    2.7  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 

This    is    approximately    equivalent  to    the    following    commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate   52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  None 

Middlings  and  lubricants 24.8°  69.0  per  cent 

Asphalt "D"  28.3  per  cent 

Loss 2  2.7  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

6452.t 
Harris   Oil   Company.     Average.     (East    Field.) 

Gravity , . 13.1°  Beaume 

Gravity  corrected  for  water 13.4° 

This  sample  was  a  tank  average  from  the  station  at  Adobe  and  Castellar  streets, 
in  the  east  field.     It  contained  8  per  cent  of  water  as  received,  not  emulsified.     This 
is  a  thick,  black  oil,  with  a  mild  and  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  300  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in  a  current  of  gas.     Distillation 
carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 15.1  per  cent  -31.9°  Beaume 

Second  cut 76.5  per  cent  20.4° 

Fixed  carbon   8.4  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent  None 

♦Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 
tAnalysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


LOS    AXGELES    CITY   FIELD.  213 

On  reduction  of  the  second  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  residue  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  12.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  ___ 29.9°  24.1  per  cent   ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.3°  42.9  per  cent   (20.4° — 67.0% 

Asphalt   "D"  21.0  per  cent,  or  73.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  lubricating  stock  from  this  crude  was  of  quite  different  quality 
from  that  obtained  from  the  preceding  sample  (6468),  being  pale  in 
color,  but  rather  bluish,  with  a  mild  sulf urous  odor,  and  a  low  yiscosity. 
The  reduced  stock  also  showed  these  properties,  but  developed  no  indi- 
cations of  paraffin. 

7424.* 
Proudfit  &   Parker.     Well    No.   2.     (East   Field.) 

Gravity 14.3"   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 4.71  Redwood 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  482°  F 4.0  per  cent  30.3°  Beaume 

482   to   572° 13.9  per  cent  27.2° 

572°  to  grade — a 42.S  per  cent  24.1° 

572°  to  grade — b 8.3  per  cent  26.3° 

Asphalt    28.8  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Water  and   loss 2.2  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  approximately  equivalent  to  the  following  commer- 
cial analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  None 

Stove  oil  __- 33°  None 

Middlings  and  lubricants 25.3°  69.0  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  2S.SperceuL 

Water  and  loss 2.2  per  cent 

1(¥)  per  cent 

•Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


214  I'ETROLEUiL    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

2471.* 

Sample   from    East    Field. 

Gravity I5.I0  Beaume 

This  is  a  rather  limpid,  brownish  oil,  with  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  to  asphalt  without  steam  or 
gas.     Residue  reduced  to  an  18.7°  stock  in  vacuum.     The  original  runs  are: 
Crude  oil — 

Below  572°  F 21.5  per  cent  30.2°  Beaume 

572°   to  asphalt 64.2  per  cent  23.0° 

Asphalt    14.3  per  cent  Grade  "B"  (hard) 

100.0  per  cent 
Second  cut  from   above — 

Fuel  distillate 21.4  per  cent  31.8°  Beaumg 

Reduced  stock 42.8  per  cent  18.7° 

64.2  per  cent 

On  bringing  these  figure.s  together  they  give  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  16.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 31.8°  26.9  per  cent 

Reduced  stock   18.7°  42.8  per  cent 

Asphalt    hard  14.3  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

2463.t 
Sample  from    East   Field. 

Gravity 15.7°   Beaum4 

This  is  a  thick,  brownish-black  oil  of  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
X   0.8)   for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are : 

Below  302°  F None 

302   to   572° 17.2  per  cent  30.2°  Beaume 

Residue  above  572° 82.8  per  cent  12.7° 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 

tAnalysis  by  Wayne  Colver.  > 


LOS    ANGELES    CITY    FIELD.  215 

After  evaporation  to  asphalt  and  calculation  these  figures  are  roughly 
equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

-Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene  42°  None 

Stove  oil  __ 33°  13.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 63.4  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  23.6  per  cent  or  82.8  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

7426.* 

Davis  &  Harrison.     Solano  well.      (East   Field.) 

<5ravity 17.9°  Beaume 

Viscosity  at  60°   F 61.59  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 1.99  Redwood 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

TBelow    482°    F 6.6  per  cent  33.4°  Beaum6 

482   to   572° 17.5  per  cent  28.1° 

.572°  to  grade — a 47.8  per  cent  23.9° 

572°  to  grade — b 9.8  per  cent  24.0° 

Asphalt    17.3  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Xioss    1.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

<iasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  7.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 24.8°  74.7  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  17.3  per  cent 

Loss    1.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

*Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


216  PETEOLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFOENIA. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

SALT  LAKE  OR  SHERMAN  FIELD. 

The  group  of  wells  lying  between  the  western  city  limits  of  Los 
Angeles  and  the  Pacific  Ocean  was  first  known  under  the  name  Sherman, 
from  a  small  town  a  short  distance  to  the  north,  but  is  now  more  gen- 
erally known  as  the  Salt  Lake  field,  a  name  borrowed  from  that  of  the 
first  and  largest  operating  company. 

Topography  and  Climate.  The  Salt  Lake  field  occupies  a  tract  of 
nearly  flat  land  at  the  foot  of  the  Santa  Monica  range,  but  distant  some 
two  miles  from  the  base  of  the  mountains,  which  lie  to  the  north.  The 
ground  slopes  gently  to  the  south  and  west,  the  elevation  above  sea  level 
at  the  north  margin  of  developments  being  about  250  feet,  at  the  south- 
east corner  about  200  feet,  and  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  main  field 
about  150  feet.  The  entire  field  is  drained  through  gentle  swales, 
having  a  direction  somewhat  west  of  south,  and  carrying  storm  waters 
into  Ballona  creek. 

West  of  the  main  group  of  wells  a  low  ridge  makes  off  from  the  Santa 
Monicas  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  or  at  right  angles  to  the  mountain 
axis.  This  ridge  crosses  the  long  axis  of  the  main  group  about  2|  miles 
west  of  the  most  westerly  wells.  On  this  ridge,  elevated  less  thari 
100  feet  above  the  plain,  a  secondary  group  of  wells  has  been  drilled, 
known  as  the  Beverly  Hills  wells.  This  group  does  not  lie  exactly  in 
line  with  the  Salt  Lake  wells  proper,  the  axis  of  the  Salt  Lake  group 
intersecting  the  Beverly  ridge  about  one  half  mile  north  of  the  center  of 
the  latter  group.  These  hills  are  hardly  more  than  a  gentle  undulation 
of  the  plain,  and  their  rounded  summits  lie  approximately  level  with 
the  upper  edge  of  the  main  field.  Farther  to  the  southeast,  and  across 
Ballona  Creek,  the  hills  are  much  higher,  and  are  known  as  the  Redondo 
or  Tijera  hills. 

The  climate  of  this  region  is  the  far-famed  climate  of  Los  Angeles,  dry 
and  moderately  hot  in  summer  (the  daylight  temperatures  ranging  from 
70°  to  90°  F.),  with  a  rather  small  rainfall  (some  fifteen  inches  per 
annum)  and  mild  temperature  in  winter.  In  this  respect  few  fields 
anywhere  are  more  favored,  there  being  but  few  days  in  the  year  when 
outdoor  labors  can  not  be  pursued  in  perfect  comfort. 

Underground  conditions.  The  Salt  Lake  field  is  peculiar  among  the 
oil  districts  of  California  in  that  the  surface  is  entirely  covered  by  late 
sediments,  so  that  no  hint  whatever  is  given  by  the  surface  as  to  the 
structure  beneath.  It  follows  from  this  that  whatever  we  learn  as  to 
underground  conditions  here  must  be  gathered  from  the  results  of  drill- 
ing, but  while  the  field  has  now  been  thoroughly  drilled  up,  and  demon- 


La    Brea    Li  i^t  :     S   It    Lake    Oil    Field,    Los    Angeles    County. 


^^^>v^  «jH^m^^  *       ^^^B^^^^i 

yH^d^^^^^ 

■^K~  ^^H 

Pitch  Lake,   Rancho  La  Brea,  Los  Angeles  County. 


SALT   LAKE   OR   SHERMAN"   JSL.VND.  21  ( 

strated  in  all  directions,  the  drilling  data  is  in  the  main  kept  very  secret, 
so  that  even  at  this  late  date  but  little  can  be  learned  as  to  some  parts  of 
the  field.  For  these  reasons,  such  well  records  as  were  obtainable  in 
the  circumstances  are  given  first,  while  the  general  descriptions  usually 
given  at  the  beginning  of  each  chapter  will,  in  this,  follow  the  records. 
It  may,  however,  conduce  to  a  better  understanding  of  these  notes  to 
state  in  advance  that  the  strata  penetrated  by  these  wells  consist,  in  the 
main,  of  soft  shales,  clays  and  loose  sands;  that  the  oils  are  produced 
from  incoherent  sands,  and  that  the  shallow  wells  at  the  east  are  gen. 
erally  free  from  water,  while  the  deeper  wells  at  the  western  end  are 
much  troubled  in  this  regard.  As  to  structure,  the  sands  approach 
close  to  the  surface  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  developed  field,  and 
dip  a  little  south  of  west,  the  dip  being  rather  even  in  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  field,  but  much  disturbed  at  the  west  end.  The  field 
appears  to  be  definitely  bounded  at  the  north  and  south,  and  perhaps 
also  at  the  east,  by  zones  of  faulting,  while  at  the  west  the  producing- 
formations  are  found  in  place,  but  cease  to  be  remunerative  because  of 
>an  excess  of  water.  The  Beverly  wells,  and  the  group  south  of  Wilshire 
boulevard,  are  in  different  formation,  and  will  be  considered  separately. 
These  wells  were  last  visited  in  January,  1912. 

Bancho  La  Brea  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  compact  group 
of  twenty-eight  wells  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  15,  1-14.  Of 
these  wells,  three  are  drilling,  two  are  suspended,  one  is  abandoned,  and 
twenty-two  are  producing. 

These  wells  are  all  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  field,  and  at  the  point 
where  the  sands  approach  closest  to  the  surface.  They  are  therefore 
shallow  holes,  and  produce  a  very  heavy  oil. 

Well  No.  42,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  tract,  was  finished  at 
799  feet,  and  is  an  average  producer.  No.  44,  the  next  location  to  the 
south,  was  805  feet  and  drilling  in  January,  1912,  and  was  going  deeper, 
though  it  already  had  a  good  showing  of  oil.  No.  46,  two  locations  ta 
the  south  and  on  the  east  line,  got  only  water  to  1000  feet,  and  was  going- 
deeper,  though  not  then  working.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  Salt  Lake 
wells  immediately  south  produce  at  from  1050  feet  to  1300  feet. 

On  the  north  line,  "Well  No.  47,  a  location  to  the  northwest  of  No.  42, 
is  drilling.  Well  No.  45,  one  location  farther  west,  is  making  a  small 
amount  of  oil,  but  more  water  than  oil,  and  No.  34  was  being  cemented 
when  last  visited.  This  latter  well  uses  640  feet  of  tubing,  and  is  prob- 
ably finished  at  something  less  than  700  feet.  Of  the  other  wells.  No.  16 
had  much  upper  water  and  only  a  small  amount  of  oil,  and  was  not  being 
operated  at  this  time.  The  well  lying  between  Nos.  20  and  46  is  an  old 
abandoned  well,  noted  below. 

The  wells  farthest  up  the  formation,  which  here  dips  to  the  southwest. 
have  very  little  trouble  with  water,  not  enough  to  seriously  hamper 


218  I'ETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

their  operation.  On  the  southwest  corner  of  the  quarter,  however,  much 
water  is  encountered  above  the  oil,  and  is  hard  to  handle.  When 
pumped  with  the  oil  the  water  does  not  emulsify,  and  is  readily  sepa- 
rated by  steaming. 

The  oil  over  this  entire  quarter  is  very  heavyj  and  somewhat  heavier 
-at  the  east  than  on  the  west  side  of  the  group,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases. 
All  the  wells  produce  from  loose  sands,  and  make  considerable  solid 
matter  with  the  oil,  mainly  a  fine  sand.  On  the  other  hand,  gas  pres- 
sures are  low,  and  wells  do  not  require  so  much  cleaning  as  they  do  on 
the  next  section  west.     All  these  wells  are  handled  on  the  beam. 

On  the  south  line  of  section  16,  one  half  mile  to  the  west  of  the  group 
just  mentioned,  this  company  is  pumping  three  wells,  and  was  drilling 
one  in  January  of  the  current  year.  The  oil  from  these  wells,  while 
heavy,  is  rather  lighter  than  that  from  the  wells  either  south  or  east, 
and  these  three  wells  appear  to  be  more  liberal  producers  than  the 
average  for  this  portion  of  the  field. 

On  the  narrow  strip  lying  between  the  Salt  Lake  and  the  Clark- 
Sherman  leases,  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  21,  1-14,  this  com- 
pany has  fifteen  wells,  all  producing.  These  are  the  oldest  wells  on  the 
entire  property,  and  were  started  about  the  year  1908.  They  range 
from  1350  feet  to  1600  feet  in  depth,  and  operate  under  the  same  condi- 
tions as  those  on  adjoining  leases. 

On  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  15,  1-14  there  was  formerly  a 
group  of  eleven  wells,  all  now  abandoned.  Very  little  is  known  about 
these  wells  except  that  they  were  shallower  than  the  producers  on  the 
quarter  to  the  west,  and  that  they  got  very  little  oil,  and  this  so  extremely 
Tieavy  that  it  could  not  be  handled.  Three  of  these  wells  (probably,  but 
not  certainly,  the  ones  indicated  as  such  on  the  map)  were  drilled  prior 
to  1900,  and  are  known  in  the  older  reports  as  the  Rhodes  wells.  The 
following  records  as  to  these  wells,  given  by  W.  L.  Watts  in  Bulletin  19 
of  the  Mining  Bureau,  will  indicate  the  general  character  of  this 
formation : 

Rhodes  wells.  No.  1,  ou  Brea  Ranch,  about  4  miles  west  of  Los  Angeles.  For- 
mation :  Soil  to  10' ;  yellow  clay-shale  to  73' ;  sand  and  boulders  to  85' ;  blue  clay  to 
1-19' ;  shell  to  154' ;  blue  clay  to  175' ;  shell  to  177' ;  decomposed  black  shale  to  192' : 
«hell,  or  hard  flinty  blue  shale  to  193' ;  oil  sand  to  213' ;  gray  shale  to  214' ;  oil  sand 
to  237';  sand  rock  to  239';  oil  sand  to  282';  sand  rock  to  284' ;  heaving  beach  sand 
to  324';  coarse  black  sand  with  asphaltum  to  350';  hard  rock  to  351';  lightish-' 
colored  sand  to  381';  hard  oil  rock  to  382';  oil  sand  (showed  well)  to  432';  soft  oil 
rock  of  shale  to  436' ;  coarse  sand  to  463'. 

Well  No.  2,  ou  Brea  Ranch,  about  800'  south  of  Rhodes  well  No.  1.  Formation: 
Soil  to  10' ;  red  sand  to  50' ;  yellow  clay  and  shale  to  133' ;  shell  to  137' ;  sand  and 
boulders  (water  strata)  to  147';  blue  shale  to  185';  shell  to  186';  shale  to  215'; 
shell  to  216' ;  clay  to  255' ;  brea  to  256' ;  shale  to  284' ;  shell  to  285' ;  shale  to  302' ; 
shell  to  304' ;  shale  and  clay  to  302' ;  shell  or  rock  to  363' ;  shell  to  370' ;  oil  sand 
(6"  shale  about  center)  to  449';  rock  to  452';  oil  sand  to  484';  rock  to  485';  sand 
to  527' ;  sand  rock  to  535' ;  sand  to  546' ;  shale  to  548' ;  oil  sand  to  596' ;  hard  shale 
or  rock  to  600'.  This  well  was  drilled  by  a  hydraulic  rig.  Two  days  after  removing 
the  pipes  the  oil  stood  within  12'  of  the  surface.     The  gravity  of  the  oil  is  12°  B. 


SALT    LAKE    OR    SHERMAN    ISLAND  219 

Rhodes  well  No.  3.  ou  Brea  Ranch,  about  800'  southeast  of  No.  1.  Formation  : 
Soil  to  10';  yellow  clay  and  shale  to  74';  sand  and  boulders  (water  strata)  to  89'; 
shale  to  104' ;  shell  to  lOG' ;  blue  clay  to  173' ;  shell  to  179' ;  decomposed  black  shale 
to  211' ;  shell  of  hard  blue  shale  to  212' ;  oil  sand  to  245' ;  gray  shale  to  248' ;  oil  sand 
to  264' ;  hard  sand  or  sand  rock  to  265' ;  oil  sand  to  267'.  Casing  would  drive  no 
further.  Took  out  20  barrels  twenty-four  hours  after  cleaning  well.  Gravity  of 
oil.  11°  B. 

The  well  between  No.  46  and  No.  20  on  the  south  line  of  the  southwest 
quarter  was  drilled  to  a  considerably  greater  depth.  The  full  log  of  this 
well  is  given  by  Ralph  Arnold  in  Bulletin  309  of  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey.  In  brief,  this  well  found  first  tar  sand  at  772  feet,  a  streak  of 
heavy  oil  between  890  feet  and  925  feet,  and  other  tar  sands  at  short 
intervals  all  the  way  to  the  bottom,  1544  feet.  This  well  was  not  con- 
sidered a  producer,  and  was  abandoned,  but  other  wells  have  since  been 
drilled  on  all  sides,  getting  their  production,  in  the  main,  between  this 
772-foot  sand  and  the  1100-foot  level. 

It  is  evidenced  by  the  results  from  these  wells  that  the  sands  come 
very  close  to  the  surface  at  the  center  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 15,  closer  in  fact  than  would  be  indicated  by  the  even  dip  across  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  22.  It  is  probable  that  a  line  of  faulting 
cuts  across  the  producing  formation  near  the  east  line  of  15  and  22,  and 
this,  if  true,  would  account  for  the  fact  that  the  easternmost  wells 
farther  to  the  south  found  only  tar,  even  at  depth. 

Amalgamated  Oil  Company — Salt  Lake  Oil  Company.  The  property 
originally  developed  by  the  Salt  Lake  Oil  Company  of  Los  Angeles,  and 
comprising  the  west  half  of  west  half  of  section  23,  all  of  section  22, 
the  east  half  of  the  east  half  of  northeast  quarter  of  section  21,  and  all 
that  portion  of  the  same  section  lying  south  of  Fourth  street,  has  now 
for  some  years  been  owned  and  operated  by  the  Amalgamated  Oil  Com- 
pany, a  subsidiary  of  the  Associated  Oil  Company.  On  this  property 
there  are  a  total  of  120  wells,  of  which  67  are  on  the  western  portion  of 
the  area  north  of  Fourth  street,  while  53  are  on  section  21,  south  of 
Fourth  street.  As  these  two  groups  are  quite  distinct,  both  as  regards 
nnderground  structure  and  operation,  they  will  be  described  separately. 

The  wells  north  of  Fourth  street  are  laid  out  in  straight  east  and  west 
rows,  spaced  346  feet  8  inches,  with  adjoining  rows  "staggered."  so 
that  any  three  wells  form  an  isosoceles  triangle.  This  arrangement  is 
very  suitable  in  such  a  case  as  this,  but  is  only  possible  in  flat  country. 
The  locations  rather  than  the  wells  are  numbered,  so  that  many  num- 
bers are  missing,  none  of  the  lines  being  as  long  as  originally  laid  out. 

Over  the  drilled-up  area,  fully  one  fourth  of  a  square  mile,  every  loca- 
tion is  occupied,  and  depth,  character  of  oil  and  operating  conditions  are 
more  uniform  than  in  any  other  equal  area  in  the  State,  unless  perhaps 
in  some  parts  of  Kern  River.  The  producers  farthest  east  give  a 
slightly  heavier  oil  and  smaller  yield  than  those  on  the  west  line,  and 
are  from  250  feet  to  450  feet  shallower. 


220 


PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 


On  the  eastern  margin  of  the 
group  are  five  abandoned  wells^ 
Numbers  350,  352,  359,  314  and 
244.  The  exact  depth  of  these 
wells  can  not  be  learned,  but  it  is 
understood  that  they  went  at  least 
as  deep  as  the  producing  wells  just 
west,  and  it  is  certain  that  they 
found  the  oil  too  heavy  to  pump — 
a  thick,  viscous  tar.  This  was  also 
the  case  with  No.  209,  a  prospect 
hole  to  the  southeast  of  the  group. 
As  these  wells  are  much  deeper 
than  the  producers  of  the  La  Brea, 
on  the  quarter  to  the  north,  the 
conclusion  is  unavoidable  that 
some  serious  underground  disturb- 
ance has  probably  allowed  the  oil 
to  escape  in  part,  and  certainly  to 
depreciate  by  evaporation  or  by 
contact  with  water,  both  of  which 
tend  to  remove  the  lightest  con- 
stituents and  thus  increase  the 
viscosity. 

Along  the  north  line  the  depth 
of  wells  increases  toward  the  west, 
at  the  rate  of  about  nine  feet  in  the 
hundred.  Thus,  No.  349,  farthest 
to  the  east,  is  1024  feet  deep ;  No. 
345,  in  the  center  of  the  line,  is- 
1213  feet,  and  No.  340,  at  the  west 
end,  is  1313  feet  deep.  It  is  to  be 
noted,  however,  that  No.  343  was 
deepened  from  1240  feet  to  1386 
feet,  and  is  understood  to  have  had 
its  production  increased  thereby. 

Along  the  west  line,  the  depth 
increases  from  north  to  south,  but 
more  rapidly,  the  average  dip 
approximating  sixteen  feet  in  the 
hundred.  This  dip  is  less  regular 
than  from  east  to  west,  there  being 
a  flat  spot  from  No.  322  to  No.  252, 
or  over  half  the  width  of  the  strip. 


SALT   LAKE   OB   SHERMAN   LSfcA?a\  221 

Avhile  south  of  this  the  sand  drops  off  rapidly.  Thus.  No.  340  is  1313 
feet,  No.  322  is  1476  feet,  No.  252  is  1410  feet,  with  intervening  locations 
running  close  to  this  figure,  while  No.  235  is  1550  feet,  No.  217  is  1602 
feet,  and  No.  200  is  1828  feet  deep.  This  flattening  on  the  north  half 
with  an  abrupt  dip  farther  south  is  noticeable  about  half  Avay  across  the 
quarter  section,  the  dip  in  the  southern  part  gradually  decreasing  until 
east  of  the  center  it  is  hardly  observable,  and  the  sands  lie  practically 
flat  in  a  north  and  south  direction. 

Starting  from  No.  42  on  the  Brea,  and  taking  the  nearest  approxima- 
tion to  a  straight  line  to  No.  200  on  the  Salt  Lake,  we  find  a  dip  to  the 
southwest  of  1029  feet  in  a  distance  of  5030  feet,  or  an  average  of 
twenty  and  one  half  feet  per  hundred.  This  dip.  however,  is  far  from 
regular,  being  26  per  cent  from  Brea  42  to  Salt  Lake  346.  zero  from  the 
latter  well  to  Salt  Lake  273,  nineteen  per  cent  from  this  well  to  Salt 
Lake  219,  and  sixty  per  cent  from  Salt  Lake  219  to  Salt  Lake  200.  The 
detail  logs  of  these  wells  are  not  available,  but  it  is  probable  that  a  part 
of  this  increase  of  depth  is  due  to  a  thickening  of  the  producing  sands 
toward  the  southwest.  -Tbe^seetiorts  in  Figure  28^Tndicatc  the  lay  of- 
tliese^saBds-«ri:he  three^  directions  noted.- 

All  of  these  wells  make  sand,  and  some  of  them  a  large  amount,  but 
this  occasions  less  embarrassment  with  very  heav;^'  oils  than  with  those  of 
less  consistency,  as  the  sand  remains  in  suspension  longer  in  these  very 
viscous  oils,  and  less  cleaning  of  wells  is  required  than  might  be  antic- 
ipated. Some  water  is  produced  with  the  oil,  more  on  the  west  than 
from  the  eastern  wells.  As  already  noted,  this  water  does  not  emulsify, 
and  as  the  oils  require  to  be  heated  to  remove  sand,  the  water  is  settled 
out  at  the  same  time,  and  at  smaU  cost.  Heating  is  done  in  open  wood 
tanks  with  steam  coils,  a  method  which  would  be  extravagant  of  fuel 
were  not  an  ample  supply  of  gas  available  from  the  wells. 

The  viscosity  of  these  oils  is  so  great  that  it  would  probably  preclude  • 
pumping  them  from  much  deeper  welLs,  and  a  number  of  unusual 
expedients  are  practiced  in  handling  them.  Though  the  beams  are  run 
at  much  less  than  the  normal  speed,  and  on  a  rather  short  stroke,  the 
rods  settle  so  slowly  that  if  attached  in.  the  usual  manner  they  would 
be  likely  to  buckle  on  the  down  stroke.  !Many  of  these  wells  have 
therefore  a  slip- joint  (a  cross-pin  sliding  in  a  slotted  tube),  in  place 
of  the  usual  shackle,  but  where  the  rods  fail  to  sink  they  are  picked  up 
with  a  jerk  on  the  up  stroke,  and  breakage  of  rods  is  very  common. 
Pulling  tubing  on  one  of  these  tar  holes  is  an  operation  which  must  be 
seen  to  be  appreciated;  the  derrick  floors  are  literally  piled  with  hard- 
ened oil.  INIany  of  these  wells,  instead  of  pumping  direct  into  the  lead 
line,  discharge  into  a  small  heating  tank,  close  to  the  derrick,  in  which 
the  oil  is  thoroughly  liquefied  before  being  transferred  by  a  separate 
pump. 


222  PETROLEUM    IN    SOTITIIERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Clark  &  Sherman  Land  Company  or  Los  Angeles  Pacific  KaUwaij 
The  small  tract  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  21,  and  lying  west 
and  south  of  La  Brea  property,  is  usually  spoken  of  as  the  Los  Angeles 
Pacific  lease,  but  is  understood  to  be  owned  and  operated  by  the  Clark 
&  Sherman  Land  Company  of  Los  Angeles.  On  this  tract  there  are  23 
wells,  of  which  all  but  Numbers  1  and  17  are  productive. 

Well  No.  1  is  a  shallow  hole,  said  to  be  only  350  feet  deep,  and 
though  formerly  productive  is  now  considered  exhausted.  Well  No.  17 
was  suspended  when  last  visited,  and  does  not  appear  to  have  ever  had 
production.  Numbers  2,  3,  4,  5  and  6,  along  the  south  end,  are  pumping 
on  the  jack,  and  are  said  to  be  shallow  holes.  All  the  other  wells  are 
pumping  on  the  beam,  with  steam  engines.  These  wells  range  from 
1300  feet  to  1600  feet  in  depth,  and  produce  the  same  quality  of  oil  as 
the  wells  east  and  west. 

Pacific  Light  &  Power  Company.  This  lease  is  on  the  center  line  of 
section  21,  north  of  Fourth  street.  Here  there  are  23  wells,  of  which 
the  last  is  drilling,  while  all  the  balance  are  producing.  Nothing  is 
known  as  to  the  depths  of  these  wells,  but  they  probably  run  about  the 
same  as  those  of  the  Gilmore  wells  to  the  west,  or  from  1800  to  2000 
feet.  These  Avells  all  pump  on  the  beam,  and  are  driven  by  electric 
motors. 

The  northern  portion  of  the  Clark-Sherman  lease  has  lately  passed  to 
the  Pacific  Light  &  Power  Company,  the  line  running  just  north  of 
Clark  Numbers  19  and  16.  This  puts  the  suspended  Clark  well,  No.  17, 
on  Pacific  Light  &  Power  Company  property.  Well  23  is  being  drilled 
just  south  of  Clark  No.  17,  and  a  short  distance  north  of  the  new  line. 

Gilmore  Oil  Company.  On  this  property,  the  next  to  the  east  along 
the  north  line  of  Fourth  street,  are  located  19  wells,  of  which  3  are 
abandoned,  three  were  drilling  at  the  beginning  of  1912,  and  the 
balance  are  producing. 

Numbers  1  to  8,  the  wells  on  the  east  line,  are  all  in  the  neighborhood 
of  2000  feet  deep,  except  for  No.  8,  which  though  originally  of  this 
depth  is  now  badly  sanded  up,  and  pumping  from  about  1200  feet. 
This  well  formerly  flowed  from  50  to  75  barrels  per  day,  but  in  attempt- 
ing to  deepen  the  hole  the  casing  was  wrecked.  Numbers  1  and  3  are 
very  small  producers,  and  are  pumped  only  on  the  day  shift.  No.  6 
pumps  steadily,  and  makes  about  the  average  for  the  field,  w^hile  No.  7 
flows  in  blobs,  the  oil  on  this  side  being  very  thick  and  heavy. 

Well  No.  15  was  formerly  a  producer,  but  is  now  abandoned,  the 
entire  producing  formation  having  shifted  bodily,  and  cut  off  the  casing 
so  that  a  severed  part  could  not  be  found.  Well  15-B  is  now  being 
drilled  to  replace  the  lost  hole. 

The  sands  dip  sharply  to  the  west.  Well  No.  16  being  in  the  neighbor- 


SALT    LAKE    OE    SHERMAX    ISLAND  223 

Ijood  of  3100  feet  deep.  This  well  had  much  top  water,  which  was  not 
shut  off,  and  for  a  time  produced  very  little  oil,  but  is  now  handled  by  a 
method  not  elsewhere  noted.  A  second  string  of  tubing  is  run  down 
to  the  level  of  the  water,  and  discharges  a  steady  2-inch  stream  of  water, 
pumped  from  below  the  oil,  while  the  usual  oil  pump  lifts  the  oil  from 
farther  up.  By  this  means  the  water  is  lifted  as  it  comes  in,  mthout 
being  allowed  to  mix  with  the  oil,  and  a  normal  volume  of  oil  is  had 
from  the  well. 

No.  21  is  a  drilling  well  also.  No.  27  is  a  producer  at  a  depth  of  3120 
feet,  and  No.  39  at  3060  feet,  these  being  tubing  depths.  No.  47  is  a 
flowing  well  at  about  3800  feet,  and  is  making  an  oil  of  about  20°^ 
Beaume,  the  lightest  on  the  lease.  It  ^^all  be  noted  that  the  sands  pitch 
off  very  sharply  in  this  direction,  and  that  the  gravity  increases  very 
rapidly  with  increase  of  depth.  It  is  said  that  these  deeper  weUs  lind 
the  same  producing  sands  as  the  hea^y-oil  wells  up  the  dip  of  the 
formation,  and  not  a  lower  sand. 

The  two  wells  on  the  west  line,  and  north  of  the  main  group,  were 
carried  to  depths  of  1700  feet  and  1900  feet,  approximately.  These 
wells  both  got  oil,  but  it  was  too  heavj^  to  be  pumped,  and  the  holes  were 
abandoned. 

Amalgamated  Oil  Company — Salt  Lake  Oil  Company.  On  that  por- 
tion of  the  Salt  Lake  property  lying  south  of  Fourth  street  there  is  a 
total  of  53  wells,  of  which  four  are  abandoned,  while  49  are  more  or  less 
productive.  Almost  nothing  can  be  learned  as  to  these  wells.  The  two 
abandoned  holes  to  the  southeast  of  the  group,  Numbers  22  and  46,  are 
known  to  have  gone  to  the  calculated  depth  and  found  the  sands,  but 
with  tar  instead  of  oil.  Nothing  is  kno^vn  as  to  the  two  dead  wells  on 
the  west  line,  except  that  they  are  now  flowing  a  little  heavy  oil. 

The  first  wells  in  the  field  were  drilled  near  the  center  of  this  property, 
and  a  number  of  these  older  wells  are  now  being  pumped  on  the  jack. 
Toward  the  west  line  the  oil  is  lighter  than  at  the  east,  the  production  on 
this  side  closely  resembling  that  north  of  Fourth  street.  The  production 
of  this  lease  seems  to  be  much  depreciated,  and  probably  now  cuts  but  a 
small  figure  in  making  up  the  total  for  the  field. 

Amalgamated  Oil  Company — Arcturus  Oil  Company.  That  portion 
of  section  22  lying  between  Fourth  street  and  the  south  and  west  lines- 
of  Rancho  La  Brea  was  formerly  operated  by  the  Arcturus  Oil  Com- 
pany, but  is  now  the  property  of  the  Amalgamated  Oil  Company.  On 
this  tract  there  are  45  wells,  of  which  4  were  drilling  in  January,  1912, 
while  5  had  been  abandoned,  and  the  balance  were  producing.  Nothing 
could  be  learned  as  to  the  depths  of  these  wells,  though,  in  a  general 
way,  they  are  2500  or  2600  feet  deep  on  the  west,  and  somewhere  about 
2000  feet  on  the  east  line.     There  appear  to  be  local  flexures  of  some 


224  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

magnitude,  with  generally  east  and  west  axes,  which  effect  botli  the 
■depth  and  productiveness  of  closely  adjacent  wells. 

The  older  wells  along  the  east  line  appear  to  be  small  producers,  and 
make  a  heavy  oil,  down  to  14°  at  the  north,  and  approximately  16° 
Beaume  at  the  south  line.  Farther  west  some  of  the  wells  have  been 
very  heavy  producers,  some  flowing  thousands  of  barrels  per  day,  in  the 
main  giving  a  lighter  oil.  At  one  time  there  was  an  important  yield  of 
oil  as  light  as  25°  Beaume,  though  there  docs  not  now  appear  to  be 
anything  lighter  than  22°  Beaume,  and  none  of  the  wells  are  flowing. 
The  depreciation  of  these  wells  is  of  course  due  in  part  to  the  inevitable 
exhaustion  of  the  gas  pressure,  but  has  without  doubt  been  hastened  by 
the  intrusion  of  water,  which  has  seriously  damaged  parts  of  this  terri- 
tory, particularly  toward  the  northwest.  Several  of  these  wells, 
formerly  good  producers,  now  make  hardly  anything  but  water. 

Garhtitt  Oil  Company.  This  lease  lies  north  of  the  Arcturus,  and 
next  west  of  the  Gilmore  tract.  On  this  property  there  are  thirteen 
wells,  of  which  4  are  producing,  5  are  abandoned,  2  are  suspended  and 
probably  abandoned,  one  is  drilling,  and  one  is  being  worked  on,  in  the 
attempt  to  shut  out  water.     The  depths  of  these  wells  are  not  known.    ' 

The  well  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  tract,  and  No.  6,  next  to  the 
west,  are  abandoned,  and  are  said  to  have  had  water  and  only  a  little 
tar.  Numbers  5  and  3,  next  to  the  west  on  the  south  line,  and  Numbers 
10  and  11,  just  to  the  north  of  these,  are  producers,  making  a  rather 
small  output  of  oil  of  about  17°  Beaume,  with  considerable  water.  Well 
No.  2,  on  the  south  line,  is  suspended,  and  is  said  to  have  had  much 
water  and  only  a  little  oil  of  normal  gravity.  Nothing  is  known  as  to 
No.  1,  in  the  southwest  corner,  which  is  an  abandoned  hole. 

Well  No.  6,  one  location  to  the  north,  is  a  producer,  and  is  said  to  be 
the  best  well  on  the  lease.  No.  7,  just  north  of  this,  is  now  being 
worked  on.  It  had  some  oil,  but  was  not  a  satisfactory  producer. 
No.  13,  east  of  7,  is  drilling.  No  8,  some  distance  to  the  north  of  7,  but 
on  the  west  line,  and  No.  12,  northeast  of  No.  11,  are  abandoned,  and  are 
said  to  have  found  the  oil  too  heavy  to  lift. 

While  no  logs  are  available,  it  is  sufficiently  evident  that  some  sort  of 
a  local  disturbance  in  the  formation  crosses  this  tract  from  northwest 
to  southeast,  and  that  wells  adjacent  to  this  fault  get  only  a  debased  oil, 
^nd  much  seepage  water.  The  identification  of  a  fault  here  would 
account  for  the  large  amount  of  water  found  in  all  the  wells  from  this 
point  west,  it  being  evident  that  not  all  this  water  is  following  up  the 
formation  from  the  west. 

American  Petroleum  Company — Niles  lease.  This  property  lies 
between  the  Garbutt  lease  and  the  west  line  of  Rancho  La  Brea,  and 
north  of  Fourth  street.     Here  there  are  twelve  wells,  of  which  ten  are 


SALT    LAKE    OR    SHERMAN    ISLAND.  225 

])roduet'rs,  and  two  abandoned.  No.  9,  the  farthest  well  to  the  north- 
west, was  plugged  with  a  bit  at  1100  feet  and  abandoned,  while  No.  10, 
farthest  to  the  north  on  the  east  line,  was  only  started. 

Nothing  is  known  as  to  the  depths  of  these  wells,  except  as  to  No.  17. 
which  is  producing  from  1700  feet.  These  wells  pump  on  the  beam,  and 
make  a  small  amount  of  an  oil  approximating  18'^  Beaume,  and  a,  very 
large  amount  of  water,  many  times  the  volume  of  the  oil.  The  fluid  is 
run  into  open  pools,  from  which  the  water  drains  at  the  bottom,  and  as 
the  oil  is  not  emulsified  it  is  thus  recovered.  These  wells  are  said  to  have 
formerly  produced  a  dry  oil. 

McDor  Oil  Company.  On  the  L.  T.  Swall  tract,  just  west  of  the 
Niles  lease,  the  McDor  Oil  Company  drilled  three  holes,  at  least  one  of 
which  was  quite  deep.  No  commercial  oil  was  found,  and  the  wells 
were  abandoned. 

Grador  Oil  Co.  This  company  drilled  one  well  on  the  J.  A.  Swall 
tract,  west  of  the  IMcDor  lease.  This  was  a  deep  hole,  and  found  little 
oil. 

.  Sherman  Oil  Company.  The  abandoned  well  northwest  of  the  Grador 
hole,  and  just  south  of  the  Santa  Monica  electric  line,  was  drilled  by  the 
Sherman  Oil  Company  some  years  ago.  It  is  believed  to  have  been 
shallow. 

Amalgamated  Oil  Company — West  Coast  Oil  Company.  North  of 
Fourth  street  and  west  of  the  ranch  line  are  seven  wells  belonging  to  the 
West  Coast  Oil  Company,  of  which  four  were  abandoned,  two  producing 
and  one  drilling  in  January,  1912. 

Numbers  1,  2  and  3,  on  the  east  line,  and  No.  18,  on  the  south  line, 
were  still  eased  but  w^ere  not  rigged  for  pumping  when  visited.  There 
were  no  indications  of  these  wells  having  ever  produced.  These  wells 
are  said  to  have  had  a  great  deal  of  water. 

Well  No.  19,  the  next  location  to  the  west,  was  on  the  beam,  and  was 
making  a  little  very  heavy  oil,  about  14°  Beaume,  and  not  very  much 
water.     This  well  is  said  to  make  a  great  deal  of  sand. 

Well  No.  20,  next  to  the  west,  pumps  by  heads,  and  produces  a  rather 
larger  quantity,  and  a  much  lighter  oil,  said  to  be  21.5°  Beaume. 
No.  25,  the  farthest  to  the  west  in  this  string,  was  formerly  a  heavy  pro- 
ducer. It  gave  a  great  deal  of  trouble  with  sand,  and  was  being 
deepened  at  2640  feet  when  visited. 

Amahjamated  Oil  Company — Rodeo  Land  &  Water  Company.  This 
company  has  drilled  twelve  wells  west  and  south  of  the  West  Coast 
property,  all  but  one  of  which  are  now  abandoned.  The  well  farthest 
to  the  southeast  went  to  2600  feet,  and  got  a  little  heavy  oil,  but  not 
enough  to  make  a  producer.  Numbers  4,  5,  9,  10,  11  and  12  ran  from 
2800  to  3000  feet,  and  all  had  some  oil,  but  too  much  water  to  allow 
16—63 


226  I'KTROl-KUM     TN     SOUTH  KRX    CALIFORNIA. 

them  to  be  operated  at  a  profit.  AVell  No.  3,  in  this  same  group,  is  now 
drilling.  Nothing  is  known  as  to  the  three  abandoned  wells  north  of  the 
electric  line. 

Development  and  Probable  Limits  of  the  Field.  The  Salt  Lake  field 
proper,  not  including  Beverly,  has  been  demonstrated  and  in  the  main 
drilled  up  over  an  area  of  almost  exactly  two  square  miles.  To  this 
area  there  is  little  likelihood  of  any  material  addition  being  made,  as 
will  be  clear  from  an  examination  of  even  the  imperfect  notes  above. 

At  the  extreme  northeast,  an  extension  is  being  made  toward  the  north, 
but  work  already  done  a  short  distance  to  the  east  shows  the  impossi- 
bility of  any  further  drilling  in  this  direction,  and  at  the  north  the 
sands  are  so  close  to  the  surface  that  it  is  not  likely  that  they  can  be 
followed  much  further  with  profit.  There  is,  of  course,  the  possibility 
that  there  might  be  here,  as  on  section  20,  a  slight  dip  to  the  north 
which  would  carry  the  productive  sands  some  distance  farther,  but  as 
the  formation  is  entirely  hidden,  and  no  prospecting  whatever  has  been 
done,  it  is  impossible  to  hazard  a  guess  as  to  this.  This  leaves  that  por- 
tion of  the  northern  limit  lying  within  section  16  and  the  west  half  of 
section  15  open  to  possible  extension,  though  only  for  small  producers 
of  very  heavy  oil. 

On  the  east  and  southeast  a  definite  limit  to  development  has  been 
set  by  a  string  of  wells  carried  to  sufficient  depth,  all  finding  the  sand 
in  place,  but  containing  only  a  heavy  and  unprofitable  tar.  Without 
doubt  a  considerable  area  of  this  tar-producing  ground  exists,  and  under 
more  favorable  market  conditions  there  might  be  a  profit  in  producing 
such  wells,  but  at  the  present  price  of  oil,  the  11°  and  12°  oil  of  the 
Salt  Lake  lease  is  fully  as  heavy  as  oil  may  be  to  allow  of  successful 
production. 

On  the  south,  the  Hardison  &  Stewart  well,  southeast  of  the  lagoon 
(described  below)  went  to  a  sufficient  depth  to  clearly  prove  the  terri- 
tory in  this  direction,  and  so  much  drilling  has  been  done  south  of  the 
assumed  fault  along  the  southern  margin  of  the  field  that  it  is  hopeless 
to  look  for  anything  beyond  a  possible  development  of  very  small,  shal- 
low wells  in  this  direction.  There  alwaj^s  remains,  of  course,  the  chance 
of  finding  a  new  pool  on  this  side,  but  only  at  a  distance  of  not  much 
less  than  two  miles  from  present  production. 

On  the  northeast  side  of  the  strip  extending  across  the  west  ranch 
line,  conditions  similar  exist  to  those  at  the  east  end  of  the  field,  but 
complicated  by  the  presence  of  much  water.  The  territory  to  the  north 
of  the  Gilmore,  and  northeast  of  American  Petroleum,  would  .seem  to 
be  thoroughly  and  finally  condemned. 

At  the  southwest  side  of  the  field  less  prospecting  has  been  done  than 
elsewhere,  and  while  such  as  has  been  done  has  not  been  verv  encourag- 


SALT    LAKE   OR   SHERMAN    ISLAND. 


227 


iug,  there  is  still  a  chance  for  the  development  of  productive  territory. 
The  four  wells  along  the  ranch  line  between  Arcturus  10  and  Arcturus 
137  all  showed  some  oil,  and  less  water  than  the  Rodeo  wells  farther 
west,  and  while  the  oil  was  heavy  and  the  production  small,  it  has 
hardly  been  shown,  as  yet,  that  no  production  exists  on  this  side,  though 
the  probabilities  are,  it  must  be  admitted,  strongly  against  it. 

At  the  western  end  of  the  field  the  sands  lie  so  far  down  that  it 
becomes  very  difficult  to  handle  the  large  amounts  of  water  found,  in 
the  soft  formation  available  for  shutting  otf .  So  that  while  most  of 
these  wells  have  shown  some  oil,  and  two  or  three  have  been  very  good 
producers  indeed,  the  prospects  for  the  territory  as  a  whole  are  not 
encouraging.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  productive  sands  underlie 
at  least  a  part  of  this  ground,  but  whether  wells  at  this  depth  can  be 
successfully  drilled  in  such  wet  ground,  with  any  methods  of  drilling 
and  cementing  now  known,  is  open  to  a  grave  doubt. 

Statistics.  The  Salt  Lake  field  differs  notably  from  most  of  the  Cali- 
fornia fields,  in  the  small  number  of  companies  which  have  operated 
here,  only  thirteen  companies  having  drilled  wells  north  of  Wilshire 
boulevard,  that  is,  in  the  field  pi^oper.  Of  course,  if  the  number  who 
have  operated  in  the  southern  extension  were  added,  this  figure  would 
be  more  than  doubled,  but  as  this  latter  work  was  mostly  done  before 
the  discovery  of  oil  in  Salt  Lake,  and  was  based  on  other  indications, 
ii  is  hardly  chargeable  to  the  development  of  this  group.  The  propor- 
tion of  successful  operators  is  also  unusually  large,  but  four  of  the 
thirteen  having  failed  to  get  commercial  production. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  current  year,  326  wells  had  been  drilled  in 
this  field,  divided  as  follows : 

Wells  now  producing 258 

Abandoned  wells  47 

Suspended,  nominally  productive  wells 5 

Drilling   January   1,   1912 16 

Total    326 

The  first  deep  drilling  was  done  in  this  field  in  the  year  1885,  w^hen 
Hardison,  ^IcFarland  &  Stewart  drilled  a  short  distance  southeast  of 
the  lagoon.  This  lake  of  heavy  tar,  located  on  the  north  line  of  Wilshire 
boulevard,  one  fourth  mile  east  of  the  west  line  of  section  21,  had  been 
worked  for  asphalt  for  many  years  previous  to  this  date,  and  was  the 
single  surface  indication  of  petroleum  on  which  prospect  work  was 
based.  The  first  commercial  production  was  had  on  the  Salt  Lake  lease 
about  the  year  1902,  but  the  bulk  of  the  drilling  in  this  field  was  done 
between  the  years  1905  and  1910.  The  average  age  of  all  the  wells  in 
the  field  is  between  five  and  six  years. 

The  depths  of  the  wells  in  this  field  run  from  a  minimum  of  800  feet 


228  I'KTROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

tc  a  maxiimiiii  of  about  3000  feet.     The  averap:e  deptli  for  all  the  pro- 
ductive Avells  iu  the  field  is  not  far  from  1725  feet. 

These  wells  were  drilled  through  soft  formation,  almost  entirely  with 
standard  rigs.  No  great  difficulties  have  been  experienced  in  drilling, 
other  than  in  the  shutting  off  of  water,  which  becomes  very  troublesome 
in  the  western  part  of  the  field.  IMost  of  these  wells  pump  on  the  beam, 
and  aside  from  requiring  considerable  cleaning,  give  very  little  trouble. 
These  wells  do  not  bridge  suddenly,  as  in  fields  where  the  gas  pressure 
is  high,  but  gradually  fall  off  owing  to  the  slow  accumulation  of  sand. 

The  production  of  the  Salt  Lake  field  during  its  earlier  years  is 
difficult  to  arrive  at  with  certainty,  as  only  unofficial  figures  are  avail- 
able, and  in  these  the  output  of  this  field  is  included  with  that  of  Los 
Angeles  City.  Fairly  close  estimates  can  be  made  as  to  the  city  pro- 
duction, so  that  if  we  could  be  certain  as  to  the  correctness  of  the  totals, 
the  margin  of  error  in  the  Salt  Lake  figures  would  be  small ;  the  totals 
were  published  by  the  California  Petroleum  Miners'  Association,  but 
their  original  source  is  unknowru. 

Production  for  the  year  1904  estimated  at  about  500,000  barrels.  This 
is  the  first  year  in  which  any  important  amount  came  from  this  field. 

Production  for  the  year  1905  estimated  at  about  2,300,000  barrels. 
This  figure  is  more  likely  to  be  too  large  than  too  small.  At  the  end 
of  this  year  there  were  about  80  wells  pumping  in  this  field,  giving  an 
average  production  per  well  per  day  of  79  barrels.  This  figure  is  prob- 
ably con-ect  within  a  limit  of  five  barrels,  one  way  or  the  other. 

Production  for  the  year  1906  estimated  at  about  1,200,000  barrels. 

Production  for  the  year  1907  estimated  at  about  1,500,000  barrels. 

Production  for  the  year  1909,  3,821,233  barrels  (Oil,  Paint  and  Drug 
Reporter).  On  May  31,  1909,  a  count  of  the  field  showed  160  producing 
M-ells,  giving  an  average  of  66  barrels  per  well  per  day. 

In  the  year  1910  the  production  fell  off  somewhat,  being  3,247,507 
barrels.     No  count  of  the  wells  is  available  for  that  year. 

In  1911  the  production  decreased  greatly,  in  spite  of  the  drilling  of  a 
large  number  of  wells  during  the  previous  two  years.  During  this 
year  the  output  was  2,815.097  barrels,  while  at  the  end  of  the  year 
258  wells  were  pumping,  giving  an  average  of  30  barrels  per  well  per 
day.  This  number  of  producers  is  slightly  larger  than  the  average  for 
the  year,  but  not  enough  to  make  any  material  change  in  the  average 
daily  production. 
Wells  South  of  Wilshire  Boulevard. 

A  large  number  of  wells  have  been  drilled  south  of  the  Salt  Lake  field 
proper,  on  the  eastern  portions  of  Ranehos  Rodeo  de  las  Aguas  and 
Rincon  de  los  Bueyes.  and  on  the  western  portion  of  Rancho  Las 
Cienegas.     None  of  these  wells  found  any  commercial  production  of  oil 


vVLT    LAKE    0:i    SHERMAN    ISLAND. 


09t) 


except  one  small  ^'roiip,  and  these  are  not  now  producing,  but  a  number 
found  oil  in  small  quantity.  Only  scattering  records  of  these  wells  can 
now  be  found,  and  the  prospects  for  the  territory  do  not  seem  to  warrant 
the  labor  of  searching  out  such  data,  considering  the  period  at  which 
the  work  was  done.  In  reference  to  the  map  locations  in  this  part  of 
the  field,  the  wells  lying  between  the  electric  road  and  Wilshire  boule- 
vard were  located  on  the  ground,  and  are  at  least  approximately  correct, 
though  in  two  or  three  cases  the  identification  of  the  record  with  the 
location  is  uncertain.  South  of  the  electric  line,  however,  the  locations 
were  made  from  written  descriptions,  and  these  must  be  considered 
tentative  only. 

It  may  hardly  be  doubted  that  these  wells  south  of  the  boulevard  were 
drilled  into  fault  material,  and  that  the  small  quantities  of  oil  found  was 
seepage  from  the  sands  north  of  the  fault.  Most  of  the  oil  found  was 
close  to  the  surface,  the  logs  of  adjacent  wells  showed  very  little  resem- 
blance, and  no  true  producing  sands  were  found  at  any  location  nor 
depth,  so  far  as  can  be  learned.  And  the  entire  identity  of  the  oils 
found,  particularly  in  the  two  important  and  unusual  characters  of  high 
sulfur  percentage  and  large  yield  of  light  products  for  any  given 
gravity,  can  hardly  be  a  coincidence. 

It  does  not  follow,  however,  that  the  acceptance  of  this  view  would  bar 
the  po.ssibility  of  productive  measures  farther  south.  AVells  drilled 
immediately  to  the  north  of  the  fault  were  no  more  successful  than  those 
to  the  south,  and  considering  the  traces  of  oil,  slight  as  they  may  be, 
which  have  been  noted  farther  south,  there  is  a  strong  probability  that 
sands  originally  continuous  with  those  of  Salt  Lake^  or  at  least  sands 
charged  from  the  same  source,  do  extend  south  of  the  fault  zone. 

If  this  be  true,  such  sands  would  be  commercially  productive  at  any 
point  where  arching  of  the  formation  underlying  the  valley  floor 
brought  them  within  reach  of  the  surface,  and  while  such  underlying 
arches,  if  they  exist,  are  not  indicated  on  the  surface,  and  would  have 
to  be  sought  on  very  scanty  indications,  it  seems  strange  that  no  pros- 
pecting has  ever  been  done  across  the  flat  between  the  Salt  Lake  field 
and  the  Cienega  hills. 

Lomhard  &  Lockharf.  These  parties  are  said  to  have  drilled  three 
wells  on  land  of  C.  Greve  and  E.  S.  Whitworth,  on  the  west  half  of 
section  29  and  the  east  half  of  section  30,  1-14.  Well  No.  1,  on  Greve 
land,  was  891  feet  deep.  Numbers  2  and  3  were  on  Whitworth  land, 
and  one  of  these  is  said  to  have  gone  into  hard  rock  at  417  feet ;  the 
depth  of  the  third  is  unknown.  All  these  wells  were  abandoned,  and 
had  no  oil.     The  locations  shown  on  the  map  are  uncertain. 

Wicks  et  al  are  said  to  have  drilled  a  400-foot  hole  on  the  De  Arnaz 
ranch,  in  the  east  half  of  section  31,  1-14.  This  well  is  abandoned,  but 
is  said  to  have  had  a  showing  of  oil. 


230  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

New  Mexico  Development  Company.  In  1900  W.  L.  Watts  reports 
this  company  as  drilling,  at  600  feet,  on  the  same  property.  The  later 
history  of  this  well  is  not  known. 

B.  Lombard  tract.  On  this  property  Ralph  Arnold  (Bulletin  309. 
U.  S.  Geological  Survey)  locates  three  abandoned  wells,  about  which 
nothing  can  be  learned.     This  property  is  in  the  east  half  of  section  29. 

Pico  Oil  Company.  On  the  James  Whitworth  tract,  in  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  29,  the  Pico  Oil  Company  drilled  a  well  shortly 
before  the  year  1900.  This  hole  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  822  feet,  and 
went  through  a  succession  of  layers  of  black  shale  and  blue  clay,  with 
almost  continuous  showings  of  oil  from  538  feet  down.  No  oil  was 
found  in  sand,  and  the  well  was  not  a  producer. 

Rodeo  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  said  to  have  drilled  two  wells 
on  lands  of  Abbott  and  Lombard,  on  the  east  line  of  section  29.  "Well 
No.  1  was  drilled  to  723  feet,  and  went  through  a  succession  of  layers  of 
sand,  soft  sandstone,  and  blue  clay.  Oil  was  found  in  gravel  between 
53  feet  and  76  feet,  and  from  593  feet  to  the  bottom,  showings  were 
almost  continuous,  but  the  well  was  not  a  producer.  The  depth  of  well 
No.  2  is  not  known,  but  it  is  said  to  have  gotten  a  showing  of  oil  sand  at 
400  feet. 

Clark  (£•  Sherman  Land  Co.  At  the  point  where  the  Sawtelle  electric 
line  swings  to  the  north,  on  the  east  line  of  section  29,  1-14,  this  com- 
pany" has  a  group  of  nine  wells,  of  which  five  are  rigged  on  the  jack  but 
not  operating,  one  is  cased  but  not  rigged,  and  three  have  been  pulled. 

These  wells  were  drilled  in  1899  and  1900,  and  range  in  depth  from 
120  feet  to  521  feet.  In  four  of  these  wells,  oil  was  found  at  from 
50  feet  to  85  feet  below  the  surface.  One  well  was  460  feet  deep,  and 
found  oil,  which  flowed  over  the  casing,  at  150  feet. 

The  well  farthest  to  the  north,  just  east  of  the  ranch  line,  is  on  the 
jack;  the  next  well  to  the  south  has  been  pulled,  but  shows  signs  of 
having  made  some  rather  heavy  oil.  The  next  well  to  the  south  of  the 
latter,  the  last  in  this  row,  is  also  on  the  jack. 

The  well  farthest  to  the  northwest  has  been  pulled,  but  is  still  flowing 
a  little  light  oil,  similar  to  that  found  farther  south.  The  well  due 
south  of  this  has  the  casing  in,  and  is  flowing  a  small  amount  of  oil, 
from  the  inner  string.  This  oil  is  of  a  greenish-black  color,  gravity 
21.6°  Beaume.     The  two  wells  southeast  of  this  are  on  the  jack. 

In  the  southeast  corner  of  the  tract,  inside  the  ranch  line  and  close  to 
the  railroad,  a  well  has  been  drilled,  but  there  are  no  signs  of  oil  around 
this  location.  Just  north  of  this  a  well  is  on  the  jack.  The  lease  has 
been  partly  stripped,  and  apparently  has  not  operated  for  some  time. 

Ida  Hancorix    tract.     This  strip  is  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 


SALT    LAKE    OR    SPIERMAN    ISLAND.  231 

tion  28,  and  ou  it  there  are  four  wells,  one  the  Ilardison  well  noted  just 
below,  and  three  others  about  which  nothing  is  known. 

The  well  farthest  to  the  south,  close  to  the  electric  line,  appears  to 
have  been  a  dry  hole.  There  is  a  large  dump,  but  no  signs  of  oil.  The 
well  next  to  the  north,  opposite  the  Clark  wells,  is  full  to  the  top  of  a 
heavy  oil,  but  is  not  flowing.  The  Avell  toward  the  center  of  the  tract, 
opposite  the  Union's  ]\Iassalin  wells,  is  flowing  a  little  heavy  oil. 

Hardison.  McFarland  d:  Stewart.  This  hole  is  located  at  the  north 
end  of  the  Hancock  strip,  just  south  of  Wilshire  boulevard,  and  south- 
east of  the  lagoon.  It  was  drilled  in  1885.  and  pulled  out  in  the  fol- 
lowing year.  It  is  said  to  have  been  1780  feet  deep,  and  to  have  been 
practically  a  dry  hole. 

Union  Oil  Company — I'itrlier  d"  Garbutt  Oil  Company — Massalin. 
The  three  wells  near  the  center  of  the  jMassalin  tract,  northwest  quarter 
of  section  28.  now  belonging  to  the  Union  Oil  Company,  were  drilled  by 
the  Pitcher  &  Garbutt  Oil  Company  of  Los  Angeles.  These  wells  were 
(grilled  in  1899  to  1901.  Well  No.  1  was  901  feet  deep,  but  is  said  to 
have  gotten  most  of  its  oil  at  about  40  feet.  This  well  is  seeping  a  little 
very  heavy  tar.  Well  No.  2,  just  to  the  east,  is  said  to  be  1083  feet  deep. 
This  well  is  reported  to  have  gotten  its  oil  at  951  feet.  It  is  rigged  with 
a  hand  pump  (the  casing  appears  to  have  been  drawn)  and  the  pit  is 
full  of  a  rather  heavy  oil.  Well  No.  3,  the  easternmost  M'ell  of  the  string, 
was  carried  to  a  depth  something  in  excess  of  3100  feet,  and  got  a  small 
production  of  20"^  gravity  oil  near  the  bottom.  This  well  is  still  rigged, 
and  is  pumped  occasionally,  but  the  yield  is  very  light. 

In' the  southeast  corner  of  the  Massalin  tract,  near  the  electric  line,  is 
a  location  where  some  drilling  has  been  done,  but  the  casing  has  been 
drawn,  and  no  oil  is  in  evidence. 

Union  Oil  Conti)an!j---Brash(ar.  At  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
Brashear  tract,  just  east  of  the  Massalin  property,  are  two  abandoned 
holes,  both  of  which  show  some  oil. 

The  well  to  the  northwest  is  full  to  the  top  with  a  very  heavy  tar,  but 
is  not  flowing.  The  southeasterly  well  appears  to  have  been  pulled. 
There  is  a  large  square  pit.  which  is  full  of  oil  of  about  16^  Beaume. 
Gas  is  constantly  bubbling  up  through  this  oil.  keeping  it  rolling  over, 
but  no  oil  overflows.  No  information  can  be  had  as  to  the  more  north- 
erly hole— the  southern  is  the  Rasemary  location. 

Union  Oil  Company — Rosemary.  The  Rosemary  well  of  the  Union 
Oil  Company,  by  far  the  deepest  hole  in  California,  was  drilled  on  the 
Brashear  tract,  and  Avas  abandoned  in  the  year  1910.  This  remarkable 
hole  was  drilled  with  a  standard  rig,  and  reached  a  depth  of  5594  feet. 
A  little  oil  was  found  near  the  surface,  and  it  is  said  that  some  oil,  per- 
haps enough  to  make  a  small  well,  was  found  at  the  bottom  of  the  hole. 


232  I'KTHOLKUM    IN    SOl'TII  KItX    CALI?^ORNIA. 

There  was,  however,  no  quantity  to  be  of  value  at  such  a  depth.  This 
hole  was  largely  in  shale,  and  gave  very  little  trouble.  When  abandoned 
it  had  been  reduced  onlj^  to  4}  inches. 

W.  J.  Variel  tract.  On  the  north  line  of  this  tract,  just  south  of  the 
Massalin,  two  holes  have  been  started,  though  there  is  nothing  to  show 
how  much  depth  M-as  made.  There  are  no  signs  of  oil  around  these 
locations. 

Joyce,  T.  11.  On  the  south  line  of  Wilshire  boulevard,  in  the  north- 
west corner  of  section  27,  there  are  two  wells  belonging  to  Thomas  R. 
Joyce,  of  Hollywood.  These  wells  produce  a  small  amount  of  very 
heavy  oil,  and  are  said  to  be  of  medium  depth,  somewhere  about  1800 
feet.  When  last  visited  they  were  rigged  for  pumping  on  the  beam,^  but 
were  not  in  operation. 

Simon  Mansfield  tract.  On  this  property  in  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  28  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  27  are  two  abandoned 
wells  about  which  nothing  could  be  learned.  They  appear  to  have  had 
some  oil,  but  are  now  stripped. 

Rommel  Oil  Company.  Well  No.  1  of  this  company  is  said  to  have 
been  located  on  the  Gay  tract,  No.  2  on  the  Rimpau  tract,  section  27. 
The  locations  given  on  the  map  are  uncertain.  Well  No.  1  is  said  to 
have  been  750  feet  deep,  and  to  have  had  oil  from  a  depth  of  75  feet  to 
the  bottom  of  the  hole.  This  well  flowed  ten  barrels  per  day  of  25° 
gravity  oil  while  drilling,  but  was  abandoned.  Well  No.  2  is  said  to 
have  been  1000  feet  deep,  and  to  have  had  a  sixty-foot  sand  at  550  feet, 
yielding  a  22°  gravity  oil.     This  well  also  is  abandoned. 

Rosedale  Cemetery  Association.  On  this  tract,  in  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  28,  there  are  five  wells,  about  which  the  following  data 
are  given  by  Watts  (Bulletin  29).  "Well  No.  1,  550  feet  deep,  60  feet 
oil  sand  at  bottom.  Well  No.  2,  800  feet  deep,  water,  no  oil.  Well 
No.  3,  160  feet  deep,  20  feet  oil  sand  at  bottom.  Well  No.  4,  160  feet 
deep,  30  feet  oil  sand  at  bottom.  Well  No.  5,  120  feet  deep,  66  feet  oil 
sand."  Two  or  three  of  these  wells  were  pumped  with  a  windmill  for 
some  time,  but  all  are  now  abandoned.  Two  are  still  cased,  and  in  these 
the  oil  stands  close  to  the  surface,  but  does  not  overflow.  This  is  a 
medium  heavy  oil,  about  16°  Beaume. 

W.  H.  Mansfield  tract.  The  wells  on  this  tract  lie  close  to  the  west 
line  of  section  33,  but  the  location  in  a  north  and  south  direction  is 
uncertain.  Watts  gives  the  following  notes  regarding  these  wells. 
"Well  No.  1,  550  feet  deep,  60  feet  oil  sand  at  bottom.  Well  No.  2,  old 
gas  well,  gas  burned  many  years  in  house.  Well  No.  3,  53  feet  deep, 
31  feet  sand,  gas  in  one  inch  pipe  burning." 

Thomas,  H.  C.     Is  said  to  have  drilled  two  wells  on  the  Crosswell 


SALT    LAKE    OR    SHERMAN    ISLAND.  2'VS 

tract,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  32.  Well  No.  1  was  654  feet 
deep,  and  is  said  to  have  found  oil  sand  from  45  feet  to  160  feet.  No.  2 
was  only  175  feet  deep,  but  is  reported  to  have  penetrated  oil  sand  for 
138  feet. 

Hauser  tract.  The  wells  on  the  property  of  the  Hauser  Packing  Com- 
pany are  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  33.  Well  No.  1  is  said  to 
have  foutid  sulfur  water  at  230  feet,  No.  2  an  artesian  flow  at  355  feet. 
Neither  showed  any  oil. 

Keating  tract.  Two  wells  were  drilled  on  the  property  of  the  A.  J.  W. 
Keating'  estate,  in  the  east  half  of  section  33,  and  extending  into  the 
next  township  south. 

Well  No.  1  was  located  between  Adams  street  and  the  Southern  Pacific 
railroad,  and  is  off  the  bounds  of  the  map.  This  well  was  1256  feet 
deep,  penetrated  strata  of  sand,  sandstone  and  blue  clay,  and  got  traces 
of  oil  and  gas  somewhere  about  1000  feet.  Well  No.  2  was  about  500 
feet  deep,  and  had  much  water  and  some  gas,  but  no  oil. 
,  Ivy  Station  well.  A  shallow  well  is  said  to  have  been  drilled  near  Ivy 
station,  on  the  Southern  Pacific  railroad.  This  well  M^as  153  feet  deep, 
and  got  a  good  showing  of  gas. 
Wells  in  Beverly  Hills. 

A  number  of  deep  holes  have  been  drilled  in  this  range  of  hills,  and 
some  production  obtained,  but  little  information  is  available  as  to  the 
final  results  of  the  work  done.  There  are  now  nineteen  producing  wells, 
two  drilling,  and  eight  abandoned.  There  are  also  six  abandoned  wells 
at  some  distance  froni  the  main  group,  and  two  are  said  to  be  drilling. 

Pacific  Petroleum  Company.  This  company  has  eleven  wells,  more 
or  less  productive,  and  is  drilling  two,  on  Wolfskill  property,  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  26,  1-15,  on  Rancho  San  Jose  de  Buenos 
Ayres.  A  few  of  the  depths  are  loiown.  Well  No.  23  is  2745  feet  deep. 
No.  36  is  2737  feet.  No.  43  is  2845  feet.  No.  49  is  2735  feet,  and  No.  59  is 
2743  feet  deep.  These  wells  are  all  nominally  producers,  but  had  much 
trouble  with  water,  and  the  output  of  some  of  them  is  quite  small.  The 
gravity  of  the  oil  is  slightly  better  than  18°  Beaume. 

Well  No.  26,  near  the  north  line,  and  No.  82,  near  the  south  line,  are 
now  drilling,  the  latter  being  over  4200  feet  deep,  in  January,  1912. 

Amalgamated  Oil  Company — Rodeo  Land  &  Water  Company.  This 
company  has  a  string  of  twelve  wells,  just  east  of  the  Pacific  Petroleum 
wells,  on  the  west  line  of  Rancho  Rodeo  de  Las  Aguas.  The  seven  wells 
lying  next  to  the  ranch  line  are  productive,  the  other  five  abandoned. 

Amalgamated  Oil  Company — West  Coast  Oil  Company — Gillis.  On 
the  Gillis  tract,  adjoining  the  Pacific  Petroleum  on  the  southwest,  the 
West  Coast  has  two  wells,  No.  1  being  a  producer  at  2382  feet,  and  No. 
10  said  to  be  abandoned,  at  3726  feet,  a  drv  hole. 


284  I'HTHOLEIIM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Grecnlca  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  J. 
Burkhardt  tract,  southwest  corner  section  21,  1-15.     Abandoned. 

Amalgamated  Oil  Company — Newmark  &  Edwards.  This  well  is 
south  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  southeast  corner  section  34,  1-15. 
Abandoned,  at  2967  feet,  a  dry  hole.  This  well  is  said  to  have  been 
drilled  entirely  without  casing. 

Amalgamated  Oil  Company — Moon.  This  deep  hole  was  drilled  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  section  22,  1-15.  It  is  said  to  have  had  some 
oil,  but  is  abandoned. 

Consolidated  Petroleum  Corporation.  Drilled  two  wells  on  the  tract 
Avest  of  the  Country  Club,  one  on  the  south  line  of  section  14,  the  other 
on  the  north  line  of  section  26,  1-15.     Both  abandoned. 

Denker,  A.  H.  On  the  southeast  corner  of  section  12,  1-15  is  a 
seepage  of  tar  and  a  small  brea  deposit,  and  on  this  two  wells  were 
drilled  in  the  year  1886  by  A.  H.  Denker.  One  of  these  wells  was  520 
feet  deep,  the  other  near  that  depth.  These  wells  were  mainly  in  sand- 
stone, with  traces  of  tar  at  several  levels.  They  are  now  flowing  sulfur 
water,  with  some  gas,  and  traces  of  oil. 

Northwest  Oil  Company.  Just  to  the  southwest  of  the  Denker  wells, 
this  company  drilled  a  deeper  hole  during  1909.     Abandoned. 

Kansas  Crude  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  drilling  two  wells 
north  of  the  electric  line,  opposite  Pacific  Petroleum  land.  These  wells 
were  started  in  the  year  1912. 

QUALITIES  OF  SALT   LAKE  OILS. 

The  crudes  of  the  Salt  Lake  field  vary  widely  in  gravity  and  in  com- 
mercial analysis,  but  show  marked  similarity  in  general  properties.  All 
are  characterized  by  a  high  percentage  of  sulfur,  which  varies  irreg- 
ularly, and  bears  no  relation  to  the  gravity  of  the  oil.  The  heavy  oils 
are  distinguished  by  an  unusually  high  viscosity,  high  even  for  the 
gravity,  and  in  this  respect  apj^roach  the  oils  of  Cat  Canon. 

A  characteristic  of  all  grades  is  the  high  yield  of  asphalt  and  of  light 
products  for  any  given  gravity.  For  instance,  a  Whittier  oil  of  20° 
Beaume  gives  little  or  no  engine-distillate,  and  no  gasoline,  while  a 
Sale  Lake  oil  of  this  gravity  gives  a  good  yield  of  gasoline.  A  City 
crude  of  16°  Beaume  gives  no  naphthas  nor  kerosene,  but  starts  to  distil 
in  the  stove-oil  cut,  while  a  Salt  Lake  crude  of  this  gravity  usually  gives 
a  large  yield  of  kerosene,  and  often  a  little  engine-distillate.  The  yield 
of  asphalt  is  correspondingly  high,  being  on  the  average  nearly  a  half 
greater  than  from  a  City  crude  of  the  same  gravity. 

These  valuable  properties  are  offset,  to  some  extent,  by  the  high  degree 
of  impurity  of  the  distillates  from  these  oils.  This  impurity  renders  the 
heavy  cuts  of  little  value,  though  the  contaminating  bodies  may  be 


ALT    LAKE    OR    SIIER^L\X    ISLAND. 


235 


removed  from  the  lighter  distillates  by  rigorous  treatment.  On  the 
whole,  the  lighter  grades  of  this  crude  are  of  much  value  for  refining, 
considering  the  present  demand  for  the  naphthas. 


Rancho   La    Brea   Oil   Company.     Well    No.    14. 

Gravity 10.0°   Beau  me 

Viscosity  at  18o°   F 07.83  Redwood 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glas.s  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  482°  F 4.0  per  cour  31.9°  Beaume 

482   to   572° 25.4  per  cer.-:  27.6° 

572°    to   grade 22.0  per  cein:  21.5° 

Asphalt    46.5  per 'jeut  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    2.1  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline     01°   Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  3.0  per  cent 

^Middlings  and  lubricants 24.8°  48.4  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  46.5  per  cent,  or  163.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

Los.s 2.1  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

Rancho    La    Brea   Oil    Company.      Well    No.   42. 

Gravity 1 11.3°   Beaume 

This  is  a  very  thick,  brownish-black  oil.  with  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  di-y,  last   cut   in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 2.6  per  cent  42.0°  Beaume 

Second   cut 9.1  per  cent  32.7° 

Third  cut 73.2  per  cent  18.2° 

Fixed   carbon    15.1  grams  iier  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  lubricating  stock  in  a  current  of  gas.  and  calcu- 
lation of  the  residue  to  coke,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  had : 

Gasoline     61°  Beaumf-  None 

Engine   distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  2.6  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  8.5  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   29.6°  16.9  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   13.2°  34.2  per  cent  ^  18.2°— 51.1% 

Asphalt "D"  37.8  per  cent,  or  132.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 


100.0  per  cent 


Analysis  by  H.   N.    Cooper. 
■Analysis  by  J.   P.   P. 


236  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  were  of  good  color,  but  had  a  sharp 
and  unpleasant  odor,  which  did  not  disappear  on  treatment. 

The  lubricating  stock  also  had  a  very  pungent  odor,  which  passed 
away  on  reduction.  The  reduced  stock  w^as  of  a  rich  green  color,  with 
high  viscosity,  and  free  from  paraffin. 

5404.* 

Salt   Lake  Oil   Company.     Average    Heavy   Oil. 

Gravity 12.5°   Beaume 

This  is  a  rather  thick,  black  oil.  with  a  strong  but  not  sulfurous  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in  a  current  of  inert  gas.     Distilla- 
tion carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 24.5  per  cent  32.7°  Beaume 

Second   cut    61.5  per  cent  19.7° 

Fixed  carbon   14.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 

the  coke  to  "D"  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  we  have  the  following 
commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    01°  Beaume  I'.'one 

Engine   distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  5.0  per  cent  (estimated) 

Stove  oil 33°  15.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate    29.5°  17.1  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.8"  27.9  per  cent  \  19.5° — 15.0% 

Asphalt "D"  35.0  per  cent,  or  r22.S  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  fir.st  10  jier  cent  of  distillate  from  this  oil  had  the  gravity  39.0° 
Beaume,  but  the  percentage  given  for  kerosene  is  only  approximate. 
The  light  cut  had  a  very  foul  odor  and  a  dark  color,  these  being  but 
little  improved  by  the  test  treatment. 

The  lubricating  stock  was  of  good  color  and  odor,  and  medium  vis- 
cosity. It  gave  a  reduced  stock  with  a  very  rich  green  tone,  pale  color 
and  medium  viscosity,  which  treated  out  to  a  rather  dark  red  oil  of 
similar  properties.  This  appears  to  be  an  excellent  asphalt  oil,  and  a 
satisfactory  lubricating  stock. 


'Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


SALT    r.AKK 


OR    SHERMAN    ISLAND.  237 


o40o.* 
Arcturus  Oil    Company.      Well    No.    140. 

Gravity 12.8°   Beaume 

This  is  a  rather  thicli  black  oil  of  a  strong,  sweetish  odor,  not  sulfurous. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  oOO  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry.  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First    cut    9.S  per  cent  41.7°  Beaume 

Second   cut 6.G  per  cent  33.1° 

Third   cut   67.7  per  cent  22.8° 

Fixed  carbon 15.9  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  calculation  of  the  carbon  to  asphalt,  and  reduction  of  the  last 
cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    Gl°  Beaume  None 

Engine   distillate 52°  None 

Kero^^ene   42°  9.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  7.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   30.2°  20.1  per  cent  ,  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.5^  23.0  per  cent  ^  22.8° — i3.77c 

Asphalt "D"  39.8  per  cent,  or  139.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

IfO.O  per  cent 

Differing  from  the  rule  with  these  oils,  the  distillates  from  this  crude 
were  not  sulfurous.  The  light  products,  however,  were  very  dark,  and 
were  not  improved  much  hy  the  test  treatment. 

6461.* 

Arcturus   Oil   Company.     Well    No.    132. 

Gravity - 13.4°   Beaume 

This  sample  is  from  one  of  the  wells  at  the  western  extremity  of  the  field,  close 
to  the  fault  which  terminates  the  productive  territory  in  this  direction.  It  is  a 
thick,  black  oil  of  mild  odor. 

Distillation. 

Sample   of  200  c.c.   distilled  from  copper,   first   two  cuts   dry,   last   cut  in   a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut ; G.3  per  cent  40.7°  Beaume 

Second  cut 11.0  per  cent  30.5° 

Third   cut   G9.7  per  cent  19.1° 

Fixed   carbon 13.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


238  J'KTROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

Oil  reductiou  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  ^as,  and  calculation  of 
the  residue  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline    Gl°  Beaumg  None 

Enffino  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  4.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  11.5  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   30.1°  24.2  per  cent  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock 13.6°  27.3  per  cent  ^  19.1°— 51.5% 

Asphalt "D"  32.5  per  cent,  or  114.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  kerosene  from  this  oil  ran  quite  dark  in  color,  with  a  sharp  odor, 
but  treated  out  readily  to  a  white  and  sweet  oil.  The  stove  oil  was 
also  dark,  with  a  strong  sulfurous  odor,  which  gave  place  to  a  sweet 
odor  and  fair  color  on  treatment. 

The  reduced  stock  had  a  normal  color  and  viscosity,  but  showed  some 
paraffin  crystallization  at  75°  F. 

6464.* 

Rancho  La  Brea  Oil  Company.     Well   No.  27. 
Gravity   13.0°    Bi-aum€ 

This  is  a  rather  thick,  very  black  oil,  with  a  rather  strong.  sweeti.sh  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample   of  200  c.c.  distilled   from  copper,  first   two   cuts   dry,   last  cut   in   a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

Lirst  cut 8.5  per  cent  41.1°  Beaume 

Second   cut 17.S  per  cent  31.2° 

Third  cut 55.9  per  cent  20.7° 

Fixed   carbon 17.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline    01°  Beaumo  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  8.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  IG.O  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   30.2°  10.1  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.8°  21.4  per  cent  (,  20.7°— 31.5% 

Asphalt "D"  44.5  per  cent,  or  1.56.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  kerosene  from  this  crude  ran  dark  colored,  but  with  a  mild  odor, 
and  treated  out  to  a  water-white  and  very  sweet  oil.  The  stove  oil, 
however,  was  badly  burned  and  contained  much  sulfur,  and  did  not 
sweeten  in  the  treatment. 

The  lubricating  stock  was  pale  and  bright  green,  but  contained 
considerable  sulfur  and  darkened  in  reduction,  giving  a  reduced  stock 
of  only  fair  color,  with  a  rather  high  viscosity,  and  free  from  paraffin. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


Ai/r 


AKK    OR    SHERMAN    ISLAND.  239 


5402.* 
Arcturus  Oil   Company.     Average   Heavy  Oil. 

Oi-avity 16.6°  Beaume 

This  is  a  rather  thiu,  black  oil,  of  a  mild,  sweet  odor,  not  siilfurous. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  250  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First    cut    17.1  per  cent  42.0°  Beaum6 

Second  cut 8.5  per  cent  30.1° 

Third   cut   60.8  per  cent  23.8° 

Fixed  carbon '■ 14.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  calculation  of  the  fixed  carbon  to  asphalt,  and  reduction  of  the 
last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  these  figures  give  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline     61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  Trace 

Kerosene 42°  17.1  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  6.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   28.5°  27.3  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   15.1°  14.1  per  cent  J  23.8°— 41.4% 

Asphalt "D"  35.5  per  cent,  or  124.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  first  5  per  cent  of  distillate  had  the  gravity  49.7°,  and  it  is 
probable  that  on  a  larger  scale  this  oil  would  run  1  per  cent  to  2  per 
cent  engine  distillate,  with  a  corresponding  decrease  on  the  kerosene. 
The  kerosene  cut,  as  it  came  from  tlie  still,  was  dark  colored  and  rank, 
and  treated  out  fairly  well  only,  though  it  is  quite  possible  to  treat  out 
these  oils  to  water  white  and  sweet  products,  by  a  more  rigorous 
treatment  than  this  standard  test  treatment. 

The  lubricating  stock  came  from  the  still  with  a  good  color,  rather 
low  viscosity,  and  a  very  rank  odor.  It  gave  a  good  sweet  reduced 
stock,  with  a  rich  green  color,  good  viscositj^  and  a  slight  crystalliza- 
tion. This  treated  out  to  a  darl<-red  engine  oil  with  a  full  green  tone, 
of  medium  viscosity. 

•Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


L'4()  I'KTHOLEUM    TN    SOUTIIEEX    CALIFORNIA. 

7438.* 
Salt   Lake  Oil   Company.     Well    No.  4. 

Gravity 17.G°   Beaumg 

Viscosity  at  60°   F 7S.G3  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 2.83  Redwood 

Flash  point Below  60°  F.,  Abcl-Peusky  test 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  slass  flask  without  either  steam  or  gas. 

Below    212°    F 2.0  per  cent  03.2°  Beaume 

212   to     302° 7.9  per  cent  53.0° 

302   to   302° 7.4  per  cent  41.2° 

302   to   482° 7.8  per  cent  29.0° 

482   to   572° 17.0  per  cent  27.3° 

572°  to  grade — a 18.2  per  cent  24.7° 

572°  to  grade — b 11.5  per  cent  27.2° 

Asphalt    26.8  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    ^ 0.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  4.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  6.8  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  6.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  4.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 26.4°  51.4  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  26.8  per  cent  or  94.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

lioss 0.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


5401.t 

Pacific  Petroleum  Company.     Lease  average. 
Gravity 18.3°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid,  very  black  oil,  of  a  rank,  sulfurous  and  penetrating 
odor. 

This  crude  contained  1.71  per  cent  by  weight  of  sulfur.  Some  figures  as  to  the 
layout  of  the  sulfur  compounds  in  the  various  fractions  of  this  oil  are  given  in  Chap- 
ter 22. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  1.50  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in  a  current  of  inert  gas.     Distilla- 
tion carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 7.8  per  cent  48.6°  Beaume 

Second   cut    11.5  per  cent  36.9° 

Third  cut 13.5  per  cent  30.7° 

Fourth   cut 55.3  per  cent  20.8° 

Fixed   carbon   __ 11.9  grams  per  100  c.c. 


100.0  per  cent 


•Analysis  by  H.    N.    Cooper. 
tAnalysis  by  J.    P.    P. 


SALT    LAKE    OK    SIIER.ALVX    ISLAND.  241. 

The  lubricating  stock  was  not  reduced.  On  calculation  of  the  coke  to 
asphalt,  these  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  partial  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaumi"'  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  3.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  12.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  18.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 20.8°  39.8  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  27.2  per  cent,  or  d~>.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 


Salt   Lake   Oil   Company.      Well    No.   3L 
Gravity 19.3°   Beaume 

This  is  a  rather  limpid,  brownish  oil,  with  a  strong  and  unpleasant  odor. 
DistiUalion. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.   distilled  from  copper,   first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut   in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 9.0  per  cent  G0.7°  Beaume 

Second    cut    4.8  per  cent  51.8° 

Third   cut    8.1  per  cent  41.9° 

Fourth   cut 8.1  per  cent  32.0° 

Fifth  cut 6.3.5  per  cent  19.1° 

Fixed  carbon 6.5  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  residue  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  9.0  per  cent 

Engine   distillate .52°  4.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  8.4  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  7.5  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   29.7°  24.4  per  cent    Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock .__  14.4°  32.4  per  cent    19.1°— 56.8% 

Asphalt "D"  13.8  per  cent,  or  48.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  pale  and  sweet,  and  treated  out 
readily  to  products  of  the  best  qualit3\  The  lubricating  stock  was  rank 
M'ith  hydrogen  sulfid,  but  sweetened  in  reduction,  and  gave  a  reduced 
stock  of  normal  properties  and  containing  a  little  paraffin. 

The  low  percentage  of  asphalt  from  this  oil  is  unusual  for  this  field, 
which,  however,  is  characterized  by  the  wide  variations  in  properties 
of  oils  of  similar  appearance. 


Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 

17—63 


242  TETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

6453.* 

Gilmore   Oil   Company.     Well    No.   47. 
Gravity  21.5°   Beauiug 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  strong  and  unpleasant  but 
not  sulfurous  odor. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  300  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last   cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 15.5  per  cent  51.7°  Beaum6 

Second  cut 10.0  per  cent  38.3° 

Third   cut   8.2  per  cent  33.0° 

Fourth  cut 55.3  per  cent  25.3° 

Fixed  carbon 11.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  15.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  7.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  15.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   30.5°  23.8  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   15.7°  11.7  per  cent )  25.3° — 35.5% 

Asphalt "D"  27.5  per  cent,  or  9G.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  very  dark  colored  from  the  still, 
but  treated  out  to  a  very  mild  odor  and  fair  color.  The  stove  oil  was 
very  strong  wdth  sulfur,  and  burned  badly. 

The  lubricating  stock  also  contained  much  sulfur,  and  was  of  low 
viscosity,  though  the  color  was  good.  On  reduction  the  viscosity  was 
still  below  normal,  and  a  trace  of  paraffin  appeared,  Avhich  did  not 
show  in  the  distillate. 

5414.* 

Pitcher  &  Garbutt  Oil  Company.     Well   No.  2. 
Gravity 14.6°  Beaume 

This  sample  is  from  one  of  the  old  wells  south  of  Wilshire  boulevard.  The  well 
is  pumped  occasionally,  and  the  oil  appears  to  be  fresh. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  110  c.c,  distilled  from  copper  in   a  current  of  gas.     Distillation 
carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 16.9  per  cent  33.0°  Beaumg 

Second  cut 73.1  per  cent  19.9° 

Fixed  carbon 10.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.   P.   P. 


\ 


SALT    LAKE    OR    SHERMAN    ISLAND.  243 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  carbon  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  2.0  per  cent  (approximate) 

Stove  oil 33°  29.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate 29.3°  21.6  per  cent  f  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock  12.3°  22.4  per  cent  \  19.9 °-^4.0% 

.\sphalt "D"  25.0  per  cent,  or  87.8  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  stove  oil  ran  very  dark,  rank  and  sulfurous,  but  cleared  up  to 
a  red  color  and  fair  odor  on  treatment.  The  lubricating  stock  was  of 
good  color  and  viscosity,  and  gave  a  dark  reduced  stock,  of  high  vis- 
cosity, and  showing  some  tendency  to  crystallize. 

6465.* 

Rosedale  Cemetery  Well. 

Gravity 15.5°   Beaume 

This  is  a  brownish-black  oil,  of  moderate  viscosity,  and  with  a  mild  odor.  The 
sample  was  taken  from  one  of  the  wells  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  28,  just 
north  of  the  Sawtelle  electric  line.  This  well  is  full  to  the  top  and  overflowing 
slightly,  and  the  fresh  oil  from  below  is  constantly  brought  to  the  sui-face  by  the 
flow  of  gas.  The  sample,  however,  is  probably  somewhat  depreciated. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  250  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 4.8  per  cent  51.7°  Beaume 

Second  cut 10.3  per  cent  41.7° 

Third  cut 7.0  per  cent  31.3° 

Fourth  cut 66.9  per  cent  18.6° 

Fixed  carbon 11.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  4.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  10.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  6.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   29.8°  20.6  per  cent  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   14.0°  41.9  per  cent  \  18.6°— 62.5% 

Asphalt "D"  17.5  per  cent,  or  61.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  crude  very  much  resemble  those  from 
the  Clark  &  Sherman  well  (6462)  in  running  dark  and  foul  from  the 
still,  and  in  treating  out  readily  to  products  of  the  best  quality.  The 
stove  oil  from  this  crude,  however,  was  much  sweeter  than  that  from 
6462. 

•Analysis   by   J.    P.    P. 


244  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

The  lubricating  stock  had  a  sulfurous  odor,  but  the  reduced  stock  was 
sweet,  of  medium  color  and  rather  low  viscosity.  It  showed  no  evi- 
dences of  paraffin. 

6467.* 
Prtcher  &  Garbutt.     Well   No.  3. 

(Iravily 10.7°  Beaiime 

This  sample  is  from  one  of  the  wells  just  south  of  Wilshire  boulevard,  and  near 
or  in  the  south  fault  lino.     It  is  au  oil  of  medium  viscosity,  brown  color  and  strong 
unpleasant  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,   distilled   from   copper,   first   two  cuts   dry,   last  cut   in   Ji 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 2.3  per  cent  42.0°  Beaumg 

Second  cut 11.5  per  cent  33.0° 

Third  cut 77.4  per  cent  20.9° 

Fixed  carbon 8.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  a.sphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  had: 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene  42°  2.3  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  11.5  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate 30.0°  21.8  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   15.8°  42.4  per  cent  \  20.9°— 04.2% 

Asphalt "D"  22.0  per  cent,  or  77.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  yellow,  and  had  a  strong  sul- 
furous odor.  This  was  removed  by  treatment,  but  the  odor  was  still 
not  of  the  best. 

The  reduced  stock  was  of  excellent  color,  and  of  high  viscosity,  but' 
separates  a  little  paraffin. 

6462.* 
Clark  &  Sherman   Land  Company.     A  well. 

Gravity 21.1°   Beaume 

This  sample  was  taken  from  one  of  the  wells  near  Hauser  Station,  south  of  Wil- 
shire boulevard.  The  well  was  flowing  slowly  from  the  inner  casing,  which  was 
capped,  thereby  protecting  the  oil  against  evaporation. 

This  is  a  limpid,  brownish  oil,  with  a  strong  and  rather  pungent  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  300  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first   three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 14.4  per  cent  60.9°  Beaume 

Second  cut 14.0  per  cent  41.8° 

Third  cut 6.5  per  cent  30.4° 

Fourth  cut   56.3  per  cent  17.7° 

Fixed   carbon 8.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 


100.0  pi-r  cent 


Analysis   by   J.    P.    P. 


SALT    LAKE    OR    SHERMAN    ISLAND.  245 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline    Gl°  Beaume  14.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  14.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  4.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate 27.4°  16.1  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock 13.9°  29.9  per  cent  i,  17.7° — 46.0% 

Asphalt "D"  22.0  per  cent,  or  77.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  gasoline  from  this  crude  ran  somewhat  off  color,  and  only  fairly 
sweet,  but  gave  with  the  test  acid  a  strictly  water-white  naphtha,  with 
a  sweet  and  ethereal  odor. 

The  kerosene  was  peculiar  in  running  very  dark  colored,  with  a 
green  outer  tone  and  a  rank  odor,  and  in  treating  out  with  the  usual 
test  acid  to  a  strictly  water-white  oil,  very  mild  and  sweet.  The  stove 
oil,  however,  which  showed  the  same  characteristics  as  it  came  from 
the  still,  did  not  take  treatment  well,  and  retained  a  penetrating  smell 
of  onions,  due  to  the  presence  of  sulfur  compounds. 

The  lubricating  stock  was  of  medium  viscosity  and  color,  as  was  the 
reduced  stock.    The  latter  showed  a  little  crvstallization  at  75°  F. 


5410.* 
Clark  Oil   Company.      Hauser  Station. 
Gravity 22.6°   Beaume 

This  sample  is  from  one  of  the  old  abandoned  wells  on  the  lease  just  north  of  the 
Sawtelle  electric  line.  The  well  is  flowing  slowly  from  the  inner  casing,  and  the  oil 
may  be  somewhat  debased,  though  the  analysis  would  not  indicate  this  to  be  the  case. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c.  was  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in 

a  current  of  inert  gas.  Distillation  carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 11.3  per  cent  61.9°  Beaumg 

Second  cut 5.6  per  cent  52.0° 

Third  cut 9.1  per  cent  40.6° 

Fourth  cut   8.5  per  cent  30.6° 

Fifth  cut 58.5  per  cent  19.5° 

Fixed   carbon    7.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

*Analysis   by   J.  P.  P. 


246  TETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

On  calculation  of  the  coke  to  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  and  reduc- 
tion of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  inert  gas,  the  following  commercial 
analysis  is  obtained: 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  13.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  4.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  10.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  7.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   29.4°  11.1  per  cent  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.3°  37.4  per  cent  i,  19.5° — 48.5% 

Asphalt "D"  17.5  per  cent,  or  G1.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  came  over  only  fairly  light  in 
color,  and  not  very  sweet,  but  took  the  acid  readily,  and  treated  out 
to  good  colors  and  odors.  The  heavy  end  of  the  oil  was  of  good  color 
and  low  viscosity,  and  gave  a  reduced  stock  which  treated  out  to  a 
rather  dull  engine  oil,  of  16.7°  Beaume  gravity,  and  moderate  viscosity. 
There  are  no  indications  of  paraffin,  and  on  the  whole  this  oil  handles 
very  well,  better  than  the  average  oil  of  the  same  gravity  from  farther 
north  in  the  field. 


PUENTE    HILLS    GROUP.  247 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

PUENTE  HILLS  GROUP. 

The  Puente  hills  divide  Chino  Valley  from  La  Habra  Valley,  and  are 
separated  from  the  Rapetto  hills,  which  pass  through  the  northern  part 
of  the  city  of  Los  Angeles,  by  the  narrow  valley  of  San  Gabriel  River. 
The  oil  producing  territory  lying  along  this  range  and  in  the  valley  to 
its  south  has  been  known  under  a  confusing  variety  of  names,  taken  from 
local  topographic  features,  and  the  titles  Whittier,  Puente,  La  Habra, 
Coyote  Hills,  Brea  Canon,  Olinda  and  Fullerton,  are  all  comprised 
within  the  limits  of  the  map  here  shown.  (See  Whittier-Olinda  field 
map.) 

The  title  "Whittier,  taken  from  the  charming  little  town  of  that  name, 
applies  to  the  western  end  of  the  field,  and  extending  eastward  to  the 
limits  of  the  Central  and  IMurphy  properties  in  sections  23  and  26.  The 
name  La  Habra  was  originally  applied  to  certain  developments  just  to 
the  east,  in  a  small  spur  known  as  La  Habra  Hills,  but  has  now  been 
extended  to  cover  the  whole  of  the  La  Habra  Valley,  along  the  southern 
limit  of  which  oil  is  now  being  developed.  Puente  is  the  name  usually 
applied  to  a  group  of  wells  located  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Rancho 
Puente,  and  north  of  the  mouth  of  Brea  Caiion.  The  latter  name  is 
applied  to  a  group  of  wells  closely  adjacent  to  the  Puente  wells,  but 
geologically  separated,  lying  along  and  mainly  south  of  Brea  Canon, 
The  name  Fullerton  was  borrowed  from  a  town  several  miles  south,  but 
has  in  ordinary  usage  given  place  to  the  title  Olinda,  the  railroad  name 
for  the  little  oil  town  at  the  terminus  of  the  Santa  Fe  branch  line. 
These  two  names  apply  to  all  the  territory  lying  east  of  the  Brea  Canon 
wells,  the  dividing  line  being  indeterminate.  The  name  Coyote  Hills, 
or  briefly  Coyote,  is  taken  from  a  group  of  low  hills  dividing  La  Habra 
Valley  from  the  Los  Angeles  plain.  It  applies  solely  to  a  cluster  of 
nine  or  ten  wells,  lying  in  these  hills,  the  wells  being  often  included 
under  the  general  name,  La  Habra. 

The  compound  name  AVhittier-Olinda  is  perhaps  most  commonly  used 
to  designate  this  field  as  a  whole.  The  arrangement  of  the  minor  names 
is  indicated  on  the  field  map,  Whittier  being  the  most  westerly  portion 
of  the  hill  territory,  Puente  and  Brea  Canon  the  central  portion,  and 
Fullerton  or  Olinda  the  eastern,  while  La  Habra  is  the  whole  valley 
strip  lying  south  of  these  divisions,  and  Coyote  a  small  hilly  portion  of 
the  La  Habra  territory. 

Topography  and  Climate.  The  topography  of  this  field  is  simple,  and 
may  be  dismissed  with  a  word.  The  Puentes  are  a  range  of  striking  and 
I'eautiful  appearance,  of  steep  but  not  rugged  hills,  rounded  like  all  the 


248  I'lri'KoiJ-.r.M   ix  sor'i'iiiatx  caijfoiwia. 

mountains  in  this  soft  formation,  and  grass  covered.  Tlie  main  canons, 
La  Ilabi'a,  Sociuel,  Brea,  and  Telegraph,  are  of  greater  age,  apparently, 
than  the  hills,  which  they  penetrate  in  a  generally  southwesterly  direc- 
tion, and  being  the  result  of  superimposed  erosion.  The  minor  canons 
follow  the  present  trend  of  the  surface  formations,  and  liave  no 
consistent  direction. 

These  hills  lie  in  a  line  very  nearly  straight,  and  bearing  about 
S.  65°  E.,  and  the  Coyote  hills  have  the  same  general  direction,  the  La 
Habra  Valley  lying  between  these  two  ranges.  This  valley  has  a  floor 
some  two  or  three  miles  in  width  and  almost  level,  rising  but  slightly  at 
its  margins  and  to  the  east.  Where  protected  by  Coyote  hills,  this  valley 
is  a  continuous  grove  of  oranges,  lemons  and  walnuts,  of  surprising 
beauty  and  productiveness,  but  farther  east  is  just  coming  to  intensive 
cultivation,  having  been  largely  devoted  to  grain. 

The  climate  of  the  whole  of  this  section  is  most  agreeable,  being  mild 
and  free  from  frost  in  winter,  with  a  moderate  but  sufficient  rainfall,  and 
with  no  excessive  heat  in  summer. 

Means  of  Transportation.  In  this  respect  this  district  is  unusually 
favored.  A  good  county  road  paralleling  the  hills  at  close  range,  and 
others  at  greater  distances,  are  intersected  by  many  crossroads,  three  of 
which  penetrate  the  hills  into  Chino  Valley. 

As  to  railroads,  the  Pacific  Electric  has  a  line  from  Los  Angeles  to 
Whittier,  coming  in  from  the  southwest,  and  a  branch  from  Los  Nietos 
runs  along  the  center  of  La  Habra  Valley,  at  an  average  distance  of  two 
miles  south  of  the  principal  groups  of  wells.  The  Southern  Pacific 
enters  the  town  of  Whittier  from  the  southeast,  and  the  Santa  Fe 
terminates  a  branch  at  Olinda,  in  the  midst  of  the  eastern  group  of  wells. 

Pipe  lines  of  the  Union  Oil  Company,  the  Associated  Oil  Company 
and  the  Standard  Oil  Company  reach  all  parts  of  the  field.  The 
Murphy  and  Central  Oil  companies  have  independent  lines  reaching  Los 
Nietos  on  the  Southern  Pacific,  and  the  Puente  Oil  Company  pipes  its 
own  oil  to  its  refinery  at  Chino. 
Whittier  Field. 

Structure.  The  structure  of  the  Whittier  oil  field  is  sharply  distin- 
guished from  that  of  other  fields  of  California,  in  that  oil  is  here  pro- 
duced along,  and  indeed  in,  zones  of  much  displacement  and  fracturing, 
and  in  very  steeply  inclined  strata.  Superficially  this  may  seem  to  be  the 
same  condition  encountered  along  the  Pico- Wiley  fault  in  Newhall,  but 
in  the  latter  case  the  location  of  the  productive  strip  does  not,  as  in. 
Whittier,  depend  on  the  presence  of  the  fault,  but  on  the  contrary  the 
wells  drilled  into  this  fault  zone  at  Newhall  have  uniformly  proven  very 
small  producers,  or  quite  unproductive. 


Town   of  Whittier;    from    Commonwealth    Lease. 


North-dipping    Strata    North   Slope   of  Whittier   Main   Anticline. 


HILLS    (iHOUP 


249 


"Without  going  into  details  as 
to  age  and  character  of  forma- 
tion, which  would  be  misphiced 
in  this  brief  report,  it  may  l)e 
said  that  a  strip  of  territory 
extending  from  section  16,  2-11 
to  section  6,  3-9,  consists  of 
one  or  more  very  sharply  com- 
])ressed  folds,  considerably 
faulted,  and  with  uptiu-ned 
edges.  The  section  in  Figure 
29  will  illustrate  this  manner 
of  folding  better  than  written 
description. 

In  the  zone  of  crushing  inter- 
mediate between  the  limbs  of 
•this  fold  or  fault,  the  seepages 
were  found  through  which  this 
field  was  originally  discovered. 
These  seepages  have,  as  is  often 
the  case,  disappeared  since  a 
number  of  wells  were  drilled. 

At  the  northwestern  end  of 
the  main  fold  the  unbroken 
formation  of  the  north  limb 
bends  to  the  west  and  south- 
w^est,  cutting  off  the  extension 

of  the  south  limb,  which  either 

terminates     here     or     plunges 

beneath  the  surrounding  strata. 

This  termination  of  the  south 

limb  coincides  in  position  with 

the      unnamed     caiion     lying 

northwest  of  Turnbull  Canon, 

1)ut  from  the  exposures  at  this 

point  it  is  impossible  to  deter- 
mine  whether  the   steep   west 

side  of  this  canon  is   a  fault 

scarp  or  is  due  to  erosion  along 

the    upturned    edges    of    the 

upper    strata.      However    this 

may  be,  there  is  hardly  a  doubt 

that  any  possible  extension  of 

the    producing    sands    of    the 
south  limb  ceases  at  or  just  east  of  this  line. 


250  I'KTROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

The  earlier  wells  were,  as  usual,  drilled  along  the  zones  of  crushing, 
immediately  adjacent  to  seepages,  and  while  most  of  them  found  some 
heavy  oil,  none  were  commerciallj'  productive.  As  soon,  however,  as 
drilling  was  carried  far  enough  to  the  south  and  west  to  reach  the 
steeply  inclined  strata  of  the  south  dip,  productive  wells  were  had,  and 
development  thereafter  proceeded  along  a  narrow  strip  running  north- 
west by  southeast,  until  a  strip  perhaps  two  miles  in  length,  and  varying 
from  one  eighth  to  one  half  mile  in  width,  had  been  demonstrated. 

The  nature  of  these  developments,  and  the  deductions  to  be  drawn 
from  them,  follow : 

Whittier  Consolidated  Oil  Company.  The  wells  of  this  company,  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  16,  2-11,  were  drilled  in  1901,  to  depths 
of  300  feet  and  1000  feet,  respectively.  Well  No.  1  Avas  a  crooked  hole. 
No.  2  is  said  to  have  been  abandoned  because  of  running  sand  and 
boulders,  and  to  have  found  a  little  light  oil.  The  latter  portion  of  this 
statement  is  open  to  some  doubt,  as  the  surface  indications  are  strongly 
to  the  effect  that  this  well  was  located  in  a  zone  of  excessive  fracturing. 
If  true,  it  would  indicate  a  probability  of  the  shales  of  the  north  limb 
carrying  oil  at  depth. 

North  WhUtier  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  of  this  company,  on  the 
Hellman  tract,  northeast  quarter  of  section  16,  2-11,  w^ere  drilled  in 
1901  and  1902.  Well  No.  1  was  a  pointed  hole  at  1100  feet.  Well  No.  2 
was  drilled  to  1530  feet,  where  it  collapsed.  These  wells  are  both  re- 
ported to  have  had  some  oil,  and  examination  of  the  old  locations  shows 
that  considerable  oil,  probably  heavy,  must  have  been  baled  out.  These 
wells  were  located  in  the  steeply  inclined  strata  at  the  upper  edge  of 
the  northwest  dip,  and  the  sands  reached  at  the  depth  noted  must  lie 
very  much  deeper  a  short  distance  farther  w^est. 

Commonwealth  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company,  located  just 
south  of  the  foregoing,  was  drilled  in  1903  to  a  depth  of  1170  feet,  and 
abandoned  because  of  a  long  succession  of  troubles,  beginning  with  the 
collapsing  of  the  4^-inch  casing  at  the  bottom  of  the  hole,  and  ending 
with  the  burning  of  the  rig.  This  well  actually  pumped  two  barrels  of 
oil  per  day,  for  a  short  time,  as  reported  on  what  seems  to  be  good 
authority.  No  sample  of  the  oil  can  be  found,  but  it  is  said  to  have 
been  of  about  20°  Beaume.  The  lack  of  a  sample  is  unfortunate,  as 
examination  of  a  sample  of  this  oil  would  have  thrown  light  on  the 
probable  identity  of  the  sands  from  which  it  was  drawn.  This  well  was 
located  farther  back  on  the  formation  than  the  North  Whittier  wells, 
and  reached  a  much  lower  level.  The  sands  passed  in  this  well  outcrop 
on  the  face  of  the  hill  just  below,  and  are  fine  grained,  fairly  hard,  and 
rather  dry  on  the  surface. 

From  these  results  it  would  appear  that  there  is  a  possibility  of  devel- 


PUENTE    HILLS    GROUP.  251 

oping  a  narrow  strip  of  production  along  a  line  running  west  by  a  few 
degrees  south  from  these  wells.  No  data  are  available  to  show  how  far 
to  the  west  this  strip  might  extend,  but  on  account  of  the  extreme 
inclination  of  these  strata,  approaching  the  vertical  at  some  points,  no 
great  width  in  a  north  and  south  direction  would  be  possible,  unless  the 
overlying  layers  were  also  bituminized,  of  which  there  is  no  indication 
in  the  way  of  seepage  or  outcrop. 

In  this  connection,  the  results  from  certain  wells  drilled  to  the  east 
of  the  above  are  of  interest. 

Central  Oil  Company— Section  15.  Most  of  the  work  of  this  com- 
pany has  been  done  in  sections  22  and  23,  on  the  south  dip,  but  two  wells 
were  drilled  on  north-dipping  formation.  These  were  near  the  center 
of  section  15,  and  something  less  than  one  half  mile  east  of  the  North 
Whittier  and  Commonwealth  wells. 

Well  No.  47  of  the  Central  Oil  Company  was  abandoned  at  a  moderate 
depth  because  of  mechanical  troubles.  No.  49  was  then  started  close  to 
the  old  location,  and  was  carried  to  a  depth  said  to  have  been  in  excess 
of  3100  feet.  This  well  has  not  been  worked  on  for  some  time,  but  was 
still  rigged  when  last  visited.  No  oil  is  known  to  have  been  encountered, 
and  this  is  verified  by  the  appearance  of  the  rig. 

This  is  very  remarkable,  as  the  location  of  this  well  is  directly  on  the 
line  of  strike  from  the  wells  of  the  North  Whittier,  both  of  which,  beyond 
any  question,  produced  some  oil.  Three  possibilities  exist  here:  one, 
that  the  dip  of  the  strata  at  this  particular  point  approaches  the  vertical 
so  nearly  that,  even  at  this  depth,  the  sands  touched  in  the  North 
Whittier  wells  were  not  yet  reached — the  outcrops  are  practically  on 
end,  but  this  is  often  misleading.  A  second  is  that,  by  reason  of  water 
from  above,  the  small  amount  of  oil  sand  found  in  the  two  wells  above 
mentioned  might  have  been  passed  without  notice.  This  is  possible,  but 
unlikely.  The  third  is  that  the  sands  found  in  the  North  Whittier  wells 
either  pinched  or  became  non-productive  at  some  point  in  the  interven- 
ing half-mile  or  less.  As  the  surface  formation  is  very  regular,  and 
there  are  absolutely  no  indications  of  cross-faulting,  it  is  highly  prob- 
able that  the  first  suggestion  is  the  correct  one.  If  this  be  the  case, 
there  is  a  chance  for  the  development  of  a  strip  running  east  from  the 
North  Whittier  wells  to  a  point  somewhat  south  of  the  Central  wells, 
and  thence  probably  southeast.  This  must,  however,  be  considered  a 
possibility  only. 

El  Moro  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  of  this  company  on  the  Hunt  & 
Bailey  tract,  southwest  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  14, 
2-11,  were  drilled  in  1901.  Well  No.  1  is  reported  to  have  gotten  some 
gas  and  traces  of  heavy  oil  at  some  300  feet,  and  to  have  been  carried  to 
a  total  depth  of  1395  feet  without  any  further  discovery.     Well  No.  2 


252  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

was  a  dry  hole  at  1200  feet.  These  wells  arc  in  the  fault  zone,  or  at 
the  extreme  south  edge  of  the  north  dip — probably  the  latter. 

Palo  Solo  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  drilled  by  this  company  are 
the  farthest  west  of  any  which  are  certainly  on  the  south  dip.  The  first 
was  a  spoiled  hole  at  300  feet,  the  second  was  abandoned  at  820  feet. 
These  wells  were  drilled  in  1901. 

Collins,  Isaac.  In  1904  a  hole  was  drilled  slightly  to  the  northeast  of 
the  above  by  Mr.  Isaac  Collins,  of  Whittier.  This  hole  was  carried  to  a 
depth  of  880  feet,  and  abandoned  because  of  collapsed  casing.  No  oil 
was  found  in  this  nor  in  either  of  the  Palo  Solo  wells,  though  at  the 
slight  depth  reached  but  little  is  indicated  as  to  the  possibilities  in  this 
direction. 

Pickering  Land  and  Water  Company.  The  three  wells  on  the  north- 
west forty  of  section  22,  2-11  were  drilled  at  an  early  date,  probably  by 
the  company  named.  No  information  as  to  these  wells  is  now  available, 
but  they  are  probably  very  shallow. 

Home  Oil  Company  of  Whittier.  The  first  well  of  this  company  was 
drilled  in  1899,  on  the  Hillside  Land  Company  tract,  southwest  quarter, 
northwest  quarter  of  section  22.  This  well  was  940  feet  deep,  and  after 
penetrating  four  water-sands  and  finding  no  oil,  was  abandoned. 

Thereafter  operations  were  confined  to  the  present  holdings,  a  tract 
on  the  line  between  the  northwest  and  northeast  quarters.  Here  20 
wells  have  been  drilled,  of  which  14  are  producing,  5  abandoned,  and 
one  drilling. 

Well  No.  la  was  drilled  in  1899  to  a  depth  of  950  feet.  This  well 
was  at  the  extreme  northeast  corner  of  the  tract,  and  with  the  exception 
of  Fidelity  No.  2  is  probably  farther  back  on  the  formation  than  any 
other  well  on  the  section.  Considerable  water  was  found  in  this  hole, 
but  no  oil,  and  it  was  abandoned. 

No.  Ih  was  located  some  distance  to  the  southwest  of  the  preceding, 
and  abandoned  at  600  feet.  This  well  had  some  oil,  but  difficulty  was 
found  in  cutting  off  upper  water. 

The  wells  from  No.  2  to  No.  9  are  all  producers  at  depths  ranging 
from  1300  to  1600  feet,  and  make  from  5  to  25  barrels  per  day  each. 
No.  10,  the  farthest  to  the  northwest,  was  abandoned  at  1400  feet,  Avith 
some  oil,  but  not  enough  to  make  a  profitable  producer.  The  reason  for 
this  condition  at  this  location  is  not  apparent.  No.  13  was  pinched  at 
1300  feet,  and  abandoned  before  reaching  a  sufficient  depth.  No.  17 
was  abandoned  at  1000  feet  because  of  casing  trouble.  Numbers  11,  12, 
14,  15,  and  16  are  producers  at  depths  ranging  from  1172  feet  to  1715 
feet,  and  range  from  5  to  10  barrels  per  day  output. 

Well  No.  18  was  carried  to  a  somewhat  greater  depth  than  any  of  the 


^4 


Whittier    Crude   and    Home   Wells,    Whittier    Oil    Field,    Los    Angeles    Count 


Apex   of   Whittier   AiUi 


PUEXTE    HILLS    GROUr.  253 

foregoing,  being  finished  at  1820  feet.  This  is  a  larger  producer  than 
the  average  for  this  lease. 

In  Well  No.  19  an  effort  was  made  to  find  a  lower  sand,  and  this  was 
successful,  as  at  2412  feet  this  well  had,  it  is  said,  138  feet  of  productive 
sand.  Difficulty  was  found  in  holding  back  upper  water,  and  the  hole 
was  finally  flooded  and  abandoned.  No.  20  has  now  reached  a  depth  of 
about  3900  feet  (April,  1912),  and  is  still  being  carried  down. 

The  oil  produced  from  this  lease  is  quite  uniform,  ranging  from  18° 
to  20°  gravity,  and  appears  to  all  come  from  one  set  of  sands,  if  we 
except  the  output  from  w^ell  No.  19.  Some  water  is  produced  with  the 
oil,  but  this  appears  to  be  upper  water,  and  there  are  no  indications  of 
Avater  trouble  in  the  usual  sense.  "Water  settles  readily,  on  standing, 
from  all  the  oils  of  this  field.  Drilling  requires  care,  because  of  the 
steep  pitch  of  the  formation,  which,  however,  stands  up  well,  and  gives 
little  trouble  from  shifting. 

Whittier  Crude  Oil  Company.  The  first  well  of  this  company  was 
ilrilled  in  1898,  and  was  a  producer.  Drilling  has  continued  at  intervals 
since,  and  there  are  now  13  wells,  of  which  11  are  producers  and  2  aban- 
doned. The  depths  of  the  producing  wells  vary  from  1000  to  2000 
feet,  and  the  daily  output  per  well  from  3  barrels  to  12  barrels.  Of  the 
two  abandoned  wells.  No.  6  was  carried  down  to  1870  feet,  which  is 
below  the  level  of  the  wells  around  it.  Very  little  oil  was  found  in  this 
hole,  and  the  water  could  not  be  handled.  No.  11  was  drilled  to  1970 
feet,  and  found  no  oil.  It  is  far  south  of  the  other  wells  on  this  lease, 
and  appears  to  have  been  too  far  down  the  dip  to  have  found  the  sands 
at  this  depth.  The  remarks  as  to  drilling  conditions  and  quality  of  oil 
on  the  Home  lease  apply  also  to  the  Whittier  Crude. 

Colorado  Oil  Company — Turner  Oil  Company.  On  the  20-acre  tract 
east  of  the  Home  tract,  the  first  drilling  was  done  in  the  year  1900,  by 
the  Turner  Oil  Company.  Ten  wells  w^ere  drilled  by  this  company,  all 
of  Avhich  are  still  producing.  In  1910  this  property  wais  sold  to  the 
Colorado  Oil  Company,  which  drilled  No.  11. 

AVells  Nos.  1  to  6  are  from  1200  to  1500  feet  deep,  and  are  small  pro- 
ducers. Commencing  with  No.  7,  greater  depth  has  been  the  rule,  vary- 
ing from  180-4  feet  to  2165  feet,  and  the  wells  have  been  considerably 
more  productive,  running  up  in  one  case  to  as  much  as  95  barrels  per 
day  from  a  single  well.  Well  No.  11  was  but  lately  finished,  and  is 
pumping  from  about  2400  feet.  This  is  said  to  have  reached  the  lower 
sand  found  in  Home  No.  19,  and  to  be  an  excellent  producer.  All  the 
wells  on  this  lease  are  productive.  The  equality  of  the  oil  is  similar  to 
that  of  the  Home  wells. 

Colorado  Oil  Company — Wliittier  Fillmore  Oil  Company.  On  the 
20-acre  tract  described  as  the  north  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 


254  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

southeast  quarter  of  section  22,  3-11,  the  first  well,  marked  "A"  on  the 
map,  was  drilled  in  1898  by  Tubbs  &  Evans.  This  was  a  crooked  hole  at 
1200  feet.  Later  the  property  passed  to  the  Whittier  Fillmore  Oil 
Company,  that  had  previously  done  some  unsuccessful  prospecting  at 
Fillmore,  in  Ventura  county.  The  first  hole  drilled  by  this  company 
was  a  producer  at  2320  feet,  and  is  now  pumping.  "Well  No.  2a  was 
drilled  to  2350  feet,  but  was  abandoned  on  account  of  water.  In  1909 
this  property  was  sold  to  the  Colorado  Oil  Company,  which  has  since 
drilled  No.  3,  a  producer,  at  1950  feet,  and  No.  4,  a  producer,  at  about 
2400  feet,  and  is  still  drilling  on  No.  2h. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  these  wells  get  their  oil  at  depths  correspond- 
ing to  the  dip  found  farther  north,  and  apparently  produce  from  the 
same  formation  as  the  Home,  Turner,  and  Fidelity  wells,  the  oil  from 
this  lease  is  very  much  heavier,  being  of  about  14°  gravity,  but  corre- 
sponding closely  with  the  lighter  oils  in  chemical  characteristics.  These 
facts,  taken  in  connection  with  the  shallow  oil  found  on  the  Joyce  and 
Strong  properties  just  south,  seem  to  indicate  a  fault  or  minor  fold, 
paralleling  the  main  fold,  and  crossing  the  south  line  of  the  Whittier- 
Fillmore  tract.  This  would  also  account,  in  part  at  least,  for  the 
unusual  amount  of  upper  water  encountered  in  this  immediate  locality. 

Whittier  Oil  Company.  In  the  year  1897  the  Whittier  Oil  Company 
drilled  two  wells  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  22.  Well  No.  1  was  660  feet  deep,  and  found  a  streak  of  dry  oil 
sand  between  300  and  400  feet,  but  well  No.  2,  which  was  carried  to  a 
depth  of  1125  feet,  is  said  to  have  been  in  uninterrupted  sandy  shale 
from  the  130-foot  level  to  the  bottom.  These  wells  Avere  abandoned 
because  of  water. 

McCray  Bros.  Oil  Company.  Further  north  on  the  same  section,  the 
McCray  Bros.  Oil  Company  drilled  two  wells  in  the  year  1900.  The  first 
was  a  lost  hole  at  400  feet,  the  second  went  to  1200  feet  without  finding 
any  oil. 

Anchor  Petroleum  Company.  This  company  is  now  drilling  a  test 
hole  near  the  old  Whittier  wells,  but  at  last  reports  had  not  reached  a 
sufficient  depth  to  give  any  indication. 

Thomas  Joyce.  On  the  10-acre  tract  just  east  of  the  old  McCray 
wells,  Thomas  Joyce  drilled  a  1200-foot  hole,  in  the  year  1900.  Very 
little  information  can  be  had  as  to  this  well,  but  it  is  reported  to  have 
found  a  little  heavy  oil. 

Clarendon  Heights  Oil  Company.  On  the  10-acre  tract  of  Mrs.  H.  R. 
Strong,  east  of  the  Joyce  tract,  this  company  drilled  three  wells  in  1899, 
1900,  and  1901.  The  first  two  were  carried  to  252  feet  and  336  feet, 
respectively,  and  both  got  a  fair  shoAving  of  oil.     The  third  Avas  720  feet 


PUEXTE    HILLS    GROUP.  'l-iO 

deep,  and  found  enough  heayy  oil  to  jirddnce  on  the  punii).  though  not 
enough  for  profitable  operation. 

Lying  immediately  south  of  2000-foot  territory,  these  shallow  holes 
seem  to  indicate  a  change  in  the  formation,  but  whether  a  fold  or  fault, 
by  which  the  sands  are  brought  closer  to  the  surface,  or  a  cap  of  over- 
lying sands,  can  not  be  determined  from  the  slender  data  at  hand.  If 
the  shallow  oil  on  the  Strong  tract  is  from  the  outcrop  of  an  overlying 
sand,  it  would  indicate  that  quite  a  strip  of  territory  southwest  of  the 
wells  now  drilled^  and  on  which  the  lower  sands  would  lie  very  deep, 
might  be  productive.  It  is  more  likely,  however,  considering  the  abrupt 
change  in  character  of  the  oil  on  the  Whittier-Fillmore  lease,  that  the 
Strong,  Joyce,  and  McCray  wells  were  drilled  in  a  fault  zone,  and  found 
their  oil  in  stray  sands  drawing  their  oil  from  the  producing  sands  on 
the  north. 

Earner  Oil  Company.  On  the  southeast  forty  of  section  22,  3-11,  the 
Warner  Oil  Company  has  drilled  eleven  wells,  beginning  in  the  year 
1899.  Of  these,  aU  but  No.  7,  which  was  a  lost  hole  at  1752  feet,  have 
been  producers.  No.  3,  however,  at  915  feet,  entered  only  the  top  of  the 
sand ;  No.  8,  after  being  brought  to  production  at  2206  feet,  was  lost  by 
the  entry  of  upper  water;  No.  11  has  lately  been  put  to  pumping  at 
2273  feet,  and  No.  12  is  drilling. 

The  depths  of  these  wells  run  in  two  groups,  from  1050  to  1100  feet, 
and  from  1650  to  1700  feet,  other  than  as  above  stated.  The  quality 
of  the  oil  is  intermediate  between  that  of  the  Home  and  of  the  "Whittier- 
Fillmore. 

Canadian  Pacific  Oil  Company — Fidelity  Oil  Company.  On  the 
20-acre  tract  east  of  the  Turner  the  first  well  was  drilled  by  the  Fidelity 
Oil  Company  of  Los  Angeles,  in  1900.  This  was  a  producer  at  1400 
feet.  No.  2,  a  short  distance  to  the  north,  was  carried  to  1200  feet  and 
had  some  oil,  but  not  enough  to  produce,  and  was  abandoned.  This  well 
passed  through  the  sands  which  produce  to  the  southwest,  and  seems  to 
have  been  too  far  back  on  the  formation.  Wells  Nos.  3  to  8  were  drilled 
by  the  Fidelitj^  Oil  Company,  but  in  1907  the  property  was  sold  to  the 
Canadian  Pacific  Oil  Company,  that  has  drilled  up  to  and  including 
No.  12.  These  wells  are  all  producers,  with  the  exception  of  No.  2.  The 
depths  increase  to  the  southwest,  to  a  maximum  of  2300  feet.  The 
quality  of  the  oil  is  much  the  same  as  that  of  the  Home  wells. 

Canadian  Pacific  Oil  Company — Savage.  This  company  lately  fin- 
ished and  abandoned  a  well  on  the  Savage  forty,  the  southwest  quarter 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  22.  The  history  of  this  well  is  not 
known. 

Central  Oil  Company ;  Sections  22  and  23.  The  Central  Oil  Com- 
pany of  Los  Angeles  owns  all  of  section  23,  with  the  exception  of  the 


256  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

10-acre  Bulla  tract,  and  a  narrow  strip  along  the  south  line.  It  also  has 
about  150  acres  in  the  east  half  of  section  22. 

The  operations  of  this  company  are  kept  so  secret  that  but  little 
could  be  learned  as  to  conditions  over  this  area.  Developments,  how- 
ever, seem  in  general  to  follow  the  rule  which  obtains  farther  to  the 
west,  that  is,  a  gradual  deepening  of  wells  on  the  line  of  strike,  or  to  the 
southeast,  and  an  abrupt  dip  to  the  southwest. 

All  abandoned  holes  south  of  a  line  drawn  from  No.  43  to  No.  52  may 
be  safely  assumed  to  be  lost  holes,  due  to  mechanical  troubles,  of  which 
this  company  has  had  its  full  share.  Northeast  of  this  line,  which  rep- 
resents approximately  the  outcrop  of  the  sands  of  the  south  dip,  the  case 
is  different.  A  number  of  holes  have  been  drilled  northeast  of  this  line, 
and  while  oil  has  been  reported  in  some  of  them,  none  are  now  on  the 
producing  list,  and  it  may  be  doubted  whether,  in  any  of  these,  discov- 
eries have  been  made  which  could  not  be  reasonably  ascribed  to  small 
pockets  in  the  broken  material  of  the  fault  zone,  deriving  their  oil  from 
the  sands  of  the  south  dip.  In  other  words,  the  question  as  to  whether 
any  oil-bearing  formations  actually  exist  on  the  north  limb  of  the  fold 
does  not  seem  to  be  settled  by  any  developments  on  this  section. 

Mutual  Oil  Company.  The  well  on  the  Bulla  tract  was  drilled  in 
1898,  by  the  Mutual  Oil  Company.  This  well  Avas  1500  feet  deep,  and 
is  said  to  have  been  abandoned  because  of  crooked  hole,  without  finding 
any  oil. 

Chandler  Oil  Mining  Company.  In  the  year  1901  this  company 
drilled  two  wells  near  the  outcrop  of  the  south-dipping  formation,  to 
depths  of  300  feet  and  561  feet,  respectively.  The  first  well  produced 
three  barrels  per  day,  for  a  time,  of  oil  said  to  have  been  of  18°  Beaume, 
but  was  soon  exhausted.  The  second  got  traces  of  the  same  oil,  but  not 
enough  to  pump,  and  both  were  abandoned. 

3Iurphy  Oil  Company.  The  first  well  of  this  company  was  drilled  in 
1897,  on  the  extreme  northeast  corner  of  section  27,  to  a  depth  of  527 
feet.  This  well  found  traces  only  of  oil,  and  was  abandoned.  Their 
second  and  third  wells  were  drilled  south  of  the  Chandler  wells,  and 
were  carried  to  660  feet  and  1760  feet,  respectively,  the  first  pumping  a 
little  oil  for  a  short  time,  while  the  second  was  quite  barren. 

Since  this  time  thirty-one  wells  have  been  started  on  the  Whittier 
property,  of  which  Nos.  2,  3  and  12  were  originally  producers,  but  have 
since  been  abandoned.  9a.  13a  and  17a  were  lost  in  drilling,  and  Nos.  25, 
26,  27  and  28  are  still  drilling.  The  balance  are  all  on  the  producing 
list.  It  is  said  that  No.  26  has  reached  a  depth  in  excess  of  4100  feet, 
without  finding  the  light  oil  sand,  but  that  a  very  prolific  stratum  of 
sand  carrying  heavy  oil  was  cased  off  some  distance  up. 

The  data  regarding  these  wells  is  so  scanty  that  but  little  can  be  said 


PCEXTE    lIir.LS    (iKori'.  Zo/ 

as  to  the  structure  of  this  part  of  the  field.  It  is  evident,  however,  that 
the  producing  strip  is  here  much  wider  than  it  is  farther  northwest,  and 
it  seems  highly  probable  that  on  this  'section  the  producing  formation 
flattens  considerably,  so  that  the  depths  reached  by  the  wells  farthest 
southwest  on  this  section  are  not  so  great  as  would  be  calculated  from 
the  dips  on  section  22.  It  is  also  probable  that  the  producing  formation 
plunges  somewhat  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  giving  an  increase  of 
depth  along  the  line  of  strike. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California.  The  Union  Oil  Companj^  is  now 
drilling  two  wells  on  the  north  half  of  section  25,  3-11,  one  in  the  extreme 
northwest  corner,  east  of  the  old  Chandler  wells,  the  other  just  north- 
west of  the  center  of  the  section.  The  progress  of  this  work  is  not 
known. 

FuUi:rto)i  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  now  drilling  two  wells  just 
south  of  the  center  line  of  section  25,  and  immediately  south  of  the 
Union  well  above  mentioned.  One  of  these  wells  has  baled  some  oil, 
which  is  in  evidence  on  the  sump. 

Raymond  Oil  Company.  A  short  distance  southeast  of  the  above,  the 
RaATiiond  Oil  Company,  of  Pasadena,  drilled  a  well  in  the  year  1901. 
This  well  got  some  oil,  but  at  a  depth  of  2269  feet  the  casing  collapsed, 
and  the  hole  was  abandoned.  There  is  some  reason  for  thinking,  in 
view  of  later  developments  to  the  south,  that  this  well  reached  at  least 
the  top  (tf  the  producing  sands,  and  that  with  more  fortunate  mechan- 
ical conditions  a  profitable  well  might  have  been  had. 

Whittirr  Grande  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  a  short 
distance  to  the  southeast  of  the  Raj'mond  Avell.  This  hole  was  aban- 
doned at  900  feet  because  of  lost  tools. 

Illinois  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  just  south  of 
the  north  line  of  section  36,  3-11,  and  about  one  quarter  east  of  the  sec- 
tion corner.  This  hole  was  drilled  in  1901  to  a  depth  of  2300  feet,  and 
abandoned  for  financial  reasons.  It  is  said  to  have  found  a  little  heavy 
oil.  but  if  the  structure  of  the  country  is  at  all  normal  the  producing 
sands,  if  any,  must  lie  much  deeper  than  this. 

Sentind  Oil  Company.  This  hole  was  very  vshallow,  exact  depth  not 
known,  but  said  to  have  been  500  feet.  Naturally,  here  no  oil  was  found 
at  this  depth. 

Standard  Crude  Oil  Developing  Company.  This  hole  was  drilled  in 
]  001,  and  abandoned  because  of  trouble  with  water.  The  depth  was  but 
460  feet. 

T.  D.  H olden.     This  well,  on  the  southwest  ten  acres  of  section  2-4, 
3-11,  Avas  drilled  in  1899,  to  a  depth  of  1050  feet.     Much  salt  water  was 
struck,  but  no  oil  is  reported. 
18—63 


258  l'i;i'I!(>LlCli.A[    IX    SOrTJIIOUN'    CALIFOItXI  \. 

E.  F.  Joyce.  The  two  wells  on  the  Joyce  30-acre  tract,  in  the  .soutli- 
west  forty  of  this  section,  were  drilled  in  1901  and  1902.  Their  depths 
were  1200  feet  and  1450  feet,  respectively,  but  the  results  olitaiiicd  are 
not  known. 

Central  Oil  Company ;  section  21.  The  Central  drilled  ouc  iii>l<-  on 
this  section,  along  the  west  line  and  north  of  the  East  Whitticr  wells. 
but  nothing  could  be  learned  as  to  its  depth  or  history. 

East  Whittier  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  two  wells,  in 
1900  and  1901,  along  the  west  line  of  section  25,  3-11.  No  1  was  a  dry 
hole  at  1540  feet.  Well  No.  2  was  carried  down  to  2200  feet,  and 
abandoned  when  drilled. 

Whittier  Producers  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  tw(.t  wells 
in  the  year  1901,  near  the  center  of  the  east  line  of  section  24.  These 
wells  were  900  feet  and  940  feet  deep,  and  were  abandoned  l)ecause  of 
water. 

Whittier  Oil  &  Development  Company.  The  one  well  of  this  ronipany 
was  drilled  in  1903,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  24.  Some  oil  was  found  at  1200  feet  and  at  1540  feet,  and  the 
well  was  considered  an  encouraging  prospect,  but  at  2200  feet  it  was 
spoiled  by  the  loss  of  a  string  of  tools,  and  abandoned. 

Fay-Granger  Co.  This  company  is  drilling  on  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  24,  3-11,  near  the  Whittier  Oil  »&  Development  well. 

Baldwin  Ranch.  A  local  company  whose  name  can  not  be  learned 
drilled  a  hole  on  the  south  line  of  Rancho  Puente,  just  above  the  south 
line  of  section  13.  This  hole  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  about  1000  feet, 
and  abandoned  for  mechanical  reasons.  It  is  said  to  have  found  traces 
of  light  oil,  but  the  report  is  somewhat  vague. 

Hart  &  Hayes.  The  Hayes  well,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
northw^est  forty  of  section  30,  2-10,  was  drilled  in  1902.  At  a  depth  of 
1700  feet  this  well  was  lost  through  casing  trouble,  without  finding  oil. 

Golden  Gate  Oil  Company.  On  the  fractional  piece  south  of  the  Hud- 
son &  Prudy  tract,  the  Golden  Gate  Oil  Company  drilled  a  well  in  the 
year  1904.  At  a  depth  slightly  in  excess  of  2000  feet  they  got  into 
litigation  over  lease  rights,  and  abandoned  the  hole. 

The  producing  value  of  this  well  cannot  now  be  determined,  but  it  had 
some  light  oil.  In  1910,  the  La  Habra  Oil  Company  put  this  well  on  the 
pump,  and  took  out  two  hundred  or  more  barrels  of  an  oil  reported  to  be 
of  about  23°  Beaume.  This  would  not  necessarily  represent  any  pro- 
ducing, value  for  the  hole  as  it  stands,  as  the  well  had  stood  idle  for  about 
six  years. 

New  England  Oil  Company.  In  the  year  1900  to  1902  the  New 
England  Oil  Company  drilled  three  wells  farther  east  on  the  same  tract. 


PUEXTE    HILLS    GROUP.  259 

No.  1  was  a  lost  hole  at  400  feet,  and  No.  3  was  stopped  at  about  1000 
feet,  owing  to  financial  difficulties.  No.  2  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  2250 
feet,  reporting  oil  sands  at  1500.  1800  and  1940  feet.  When  put  on 
the  pump,  this  Avell  made  a  verj^  good  showing  of  light  oil,  and  looked 
like  a  producer,  but  upper  water  gave  some  trouble,  the  casing  was  in 
bad  shape,  and  after  a  long  struggle  the  well  was  shut  do\vn. 

La  Hahra  Oil  Company.  In  the  year  1910  the  New  England  property 
pasesd  to  the  La  Habra  Oil  Company,  which  pulled  the  inner  strings 
from  No.  2  well,  and  is  deepening,  apparently  with  some  encouragement. 
The  completion  or  failure  of  this  test  will  give  some  indication  of  the 
probable  value  of  this  strip  of  territory,  but  will  not  throw  any  light  on 
the  prospects  along  the  north  dip,  as  these  wells  are  located  on  a  second- 
ary fold,  north  of  the  main  fold,  but  not  a  part  of  the  formation  which 
dips  under  the  Chino  Valley. 

Union  Oil  Company;  La  Hahra  Lease.  Near  the  New  England 
wells,  the  Union  Oil  Company  of  California  some  years  ago  drilled  La 
Habra  No.  9.  No  data  can  be  had  regarding  this  well,  which  was  aban- 
doned. 

In  a  canon  heading  near  these  wells,  and  running  down  to  La  Habra 
valley,  on  section  32,  2-10,  are  six  more  wells  drilled  by  this  company. 
Some  at  least,  and  perhaps  all,  of  these  wells  produced  some  heavy  oil, 
but  they  were  pumped  for  but  a  short  time,  and  have  since  stood  idle. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1910  work  was  again  started  on  two  of  these  wells, 
and  was  still  under  way  in  January,  1912.  Nothing  can  be  learned  as 
to  the  depths,  but  as  these  holes  were  located  directly  over  the  seepage, 
it  is  probable  that  they  were  shallow.  The  surface  formation  here  dips 
evenly  and  rather  gently  to  the  south,  and  the  prospects  indicated  by 
the  seepage  would  seem  to  be  farther  in  that  direction. 

When  last  visited,  in  July,  1911,  one  of  these  wells  had  reached  a 
depth  reported  at  about  3100  feet,  and  looked  like  a  good  producer,  of  a 
light  gassy  oil  apparently  about  25°  gravity. 

The  other  two  wells  making  up  the  nine  on  this  tract  were  located  in 
the  northeast  corner  of  section  33,  2-10.  There  are  some  indications  of 
oil  having  been  taken  from  these  holes,  but  they  are  abandoned,  and 
nothing  is  known  as  to  their  history. 

RECAPITULATION. 

The  Whittier  oil  field,  reading  from  the  west  end  of  the  field  to  the 
west  line  of  the  Rancho  Puente,  and  from  the  north  line  of  develop- 
ments to  the  south  line  of  township  2-11,  contains  244  wells,  of  which 
134,  or  55  per  cent,  are  now  producing;  94  wells,  or  38  per  cent,  are 
abandoned,  and  16  wells  are  drilling  (April,  1912). 

Of  the  al)andoned  wells,  32  were  drilled  to  the  depth  desired  and 


260  I'KTUor-Kr.M    ik   s(>i:tiii:i!N  ca miouma. 

found  no  oil  whatever;  26  were  drilled  to  depth  and  found  a  little  oil, 
but  not  a  profitable  quantity;  12  were  brought  to  production,  and  after- 
ward lost  through  accident  or  mechanical  defects,  and  24  were  lost  in 
drilling,  and  al)andoned  at  less  than  the  desired  depth. 

The  total  production  of  the  Whittier  field  proper  (not  including 
Coyote)  in  1911  was  approximately  807,000  barrels,  or  an  average  of 
16.5  barrels  per  day  per  well.  This  production,  however,  was  very 
unevenly  distributed.  The  smallest  well  in  the  field,  actually  produced, 
gives  an  average  of  about  one  barrel  per  day,  the  largest  perhaps  100 
barrels  steady  production.  The  smallest  average  production  for  all  the 
wells  on  any  one  lease  is  about  3.2  barrels  per  well  per  day,  the  average 
age  of  these  wells  being  about  ten  years :  another  lease  averages  about 
5  barrels  per  well  per  day,  with  an  average  age  of  five  years  for  the 
wells.  The  largest  average  production  for  any  one  lease  is  approxi- 
mately ll  barrels  per  well  per  day,  with  an  average  age  for  the  wells  of 
about  five  years.  The  average  age  of  all  the  wells  in  the  field  is  about 
nine  years. 

No  very  shallow  wells  are  found  at  Whittier.  The  shallowest  com- 
mercial producer  in  the  field  is  down  1000  feet  even.  The  deepest  well 
now  producing  on  section  22  is  approximately  2400  feet  deep,  but  a 
3900-foot  hole  now  drilling  into  deeper  sands  promises  a  good  produc- 
tion. On  section  25  a  hole  is  now  drilling  at  4100  feet,  but  the  average 
depth  of  the  wells  at  this  end  of  the  field,  while  greater  than  that  of  the 
west-end  wells,  is  much  below  this  figure.  The  average  depth  of  all  the 
wells  on  section  22  is  1510  feet ;  the  average  for  the  entire  field  is  close 
to  1650  feet. 

Drilling  conditions  in  Whittier  were  formerly  considered  onerous, 
owing  to  the  steep  pitch  of  the  formation,  and  the  presence  of  hard 
shells  which  made  it  very  difficult  to  keep  a  straight  hole.  But  it  was 
soon  learned  that  by  using  heavy  pipe  and  following  the  hole  closely, 
these  shells  could  be  entered  without  serious  trouble,  so  that  while  drill- 
ing in  this  field  requires  much  care,  and  is  always  slow,  it  is  not  consid- 
ered diffic\dt  as  cinnpared  with  territory  wliore  running  formations  are 
encountered. 

In  spite  of  the  constant  repetition  of  the  note  "abandoned  because 
of  water"  in  the  well  records  above,  Whittier  is  not  a  wet  field.  Such 
Avater  as  is  found  is  mainly  in  the  older  wells,  and  seems  to  be  due 
mainly  to  the  trouble  experienced  in  carrying  a  tight  water-string 
through  the  conglomerate,  and  in  making  a  landing  in  the  hard  forma- 
tion over  the  oil  sands.  These  difficulties  have  disappeared  with  the  use 
of  heavier  pipe  and  of  cement,  and  the  newer  wells  are  in  the  main  free 
from  water.  Such  water  as  is  being  pumped  with  the  oil  is  fresh  upper 
water,  and  settles  out  readily,  so  that  it  causes  little  trouble.     There  is 


iMKxri:  HILLS  (inori'.  261 

no  indication  that  water  is  anywhere  in  this  field  gaining  on  the  oil 
sands,  nor  that  bottom  water  has  been  entered. 

Going  back  to  the  record  of  developments  in  the  Whittier  field  proper, 
it  may  readily  be  seen  from  the  results  of  work  already  done,  that  very 
little  prospect  exists  for  any  material  extension  of  the  productive  area, 
other  than  to  the  southwest  and  the  southeast  of  section  26.  For  what- 
ever may  have  been  the  results  from  "Whittier  Crude  No.  13.  the  west 
fault  curves  in  so  close  to  present  developments  at  this  end  as  to  leave 
but  little  room  for  extension,  and  the  unbroken  dip  to  Chino  Valley 
begins  but  little  north  of  the  present  limit  of  production. 

What  results  ma.y  later  be  had  from  operations  along  this  north  dip 
can  not  be  foretold.  Along  the  extreme  upper  edge  of  this  formation 
indications  of  oil  do  exist,  and  if  Ave  assume  that  only  the  upper  edges 
are  steeply  pitched,  and  that  the  formation  farther  north  is  more  gently 
inclined,  it  would  be  possible  for  productive  sands  to  exist  near  the 
borders  of  Chino  Valley.  It  is  certain  that  these  formations  are 
productive  under  favorable  conditions,  for  sands  of  the  Puente 
group  undoubtedly  occur  in  these  strata  at  a  point  where  a  gentle  anti- 
cline is  formed,  but  whether  structural  conditions  are  favorable  any- 
where north  of  the  "Whittier  field  is  open  to  some  doubt.  The  surface 
dips  are  consistent  as  far  as  the  east  line  of  the  township,  and  while  not 
nearly  so  steep  farther  north  as  they  are  at  the  south  edge,  where  the 
strata  are  folded  up  sharply,  they  are  yet  steep  enough  to  place  the 
sands  which  outcrop  at  the  south  edge  far  out  of  reach  at  any  point 
loAver  down  the  hill  slope.  And  as  there  are  not  known  to  be  any  seep- 
ages or  sand  outcrops  farther  down  (that  is,  higher  up  in  the  forma- 
tion), it  is  probable  that  any  productive  sands  which  may  exist  at  the 
west  end  of  this  north-clipping  monocline  are  nuich  too  deep  to  be  of  any 
commercial  value. 

As  to  the  secondary  fold  which  cro.sses  section  21,  and  in  which  tlie 
La  Habra  wells  are  situated:  there  is  here  the  possibility  of  a  narrow 
strip,  parallel  to  the  main  field,  but  while  individual  locations  may  be 
profitable,  the  extreme  complexity  resulting  from  a  very  narrow  and 
sharp  fold  argues  against  the  value  of  the  territory  as  a  whole.  Under 
such  structural  conditions  operation  is  so  expensive  and  uncertain  that 
the  successes  must  be  very  profitable  indeed  to  cover  the  percentage  of 
failures. 

QUALITY   OF  WHITTIER  OILS. 

The  oils  of  "Whittier  cover  a  wide  range  of  gravity,  the  eighteen 
samples  here  recorded  running  from  14.2°  to  24.0''  Beaume.  Yet  with 
one  or  two  exceptions  these  oils,  though  varying  greatly  in  percentatze 
composition,  are  of  the  same  general  character  and  structure. 

At  the  southwest  corner  of  the  field  are  a  few  wells  producing  a  heavy 
oil,  which  gives  very  little  light  distillate,  and  contains  more  sulfur  than 


262  I'KTIJOI.KUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

the  lighter  oils.  This  oil  closely  resembles  the  crudes  of  the  City  field  at 
Los  Angeles. 

Farther  north  and  east  the  oils  are  lighter,  running  from  18°  to  20° 
Beaume.  These  oils  give  no  naphthas,  and  but  a  low  asphalt  yield,  but 
are  very  low  in  sulfur,  and  give  a  lubricating  stock  of  the  best  quality. 
The  larger  portion  of  this  grade  of  crude  is  used  for  gas  making,  for 
which  its  low  sulfur  content  particularly  fits  it. 

The  lightest  oils  are  found  at  the  north  and  east  of  the  field,  and  run 
from  20°  to  24°  Beaume.  These  oils  as  a  rule  give  some  gasoline  and 
engine  distillate,  but  the  yield  of  light  products  is  always  very  low  for 
any  given  gravity.  These  oils  also  give  a  very  clean  and  sweet  lubri- 
cating stock,  w'hich  works  out  to  oils  of  good  color,  and  such  crudes  are 
sought  for  refining,  rather  for  their  purity,  than  for  any  large  yield  of 
valuable  products.  In  this  respect  they  are  sharply  distinguished  from 
the  Salt  Lake  oils,  which  give  high  yields  of  light  products,  gravity  con- 
sidered, but  in  a  very  impure  condition. 

4405.* 
Home  Oil    Company.     Well    No.   7. 

Gravity 14.2°  Beaume 

This    is    a    moderately    limpid,    brownish-black    oil,    with    a    rather    strong    odor, 
slightly  sulfurous. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

Fii-st  cut 8.2  per  cent  41.2°  Beaume 

Second  cut 14.2  per  cent  32.8° 

Third  cut _•_  70.4  per  cent  21.7° 

Fixed  carbon 7.2   grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  lubricating  stock  from  this  oil  was  not  rerun.  On  calculating 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaumfi  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  8.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  15.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 21.7°  59.0  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  18.0  per  cent,  or  63.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  were  a  shade  dark,  but  treated  out 
very  sweet.     The  lubricating  stock  appeared  to  be  of  good  quality. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


ITEXTE    HILLS    GROUP.  263 


<iravjty 


74:;l'.* 

Whittier-Fillmore   Oil   Company.      Well    No.    1. 

14.S'    Heaume 

Viscosity  at  185=  F. -t--l2  Redwood 

g;^,]fur 0.93  per  cent  by  weight 

Tliermal  value 18.115  Britisli  thermal  imits 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  482"^^  F 9.1  per  cent  33.8°  Beaume 

482   to   572^ 19..5  per  cent  26.1° 

.")72°  to  grade — a 37.G  per  cent  22.5° 

.~)72°  to  grade — b —     3.8  per  cent  23.5° 

Asphalt    20.5  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

AVater   and    loss 3.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analy.sis  : 

Gasoline    01°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate  _^ 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  10.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 23.7°  60.0  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  26.5  per  cent,  or  93.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

Water  and  loss 3.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
4402.  t 
Turner    Oil    Company.     Well    No.    8. 

Gravity 17.1"    Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  viscous,  brownish-black  oil.  of  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.   distilled  fiom  copper,   first  two   cuts  dry.   last  cut  in   a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 7.1  per  cent  41.7°  Beaume 

Second  cut 7.1  per  cent  32.1° 

Third  cut 78.3  per  cent  21.3° 

Fixed   carh>on    7.5  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  lubricating  stock  from  this  crude  was  not  reduced.     On  calcula- 
tion of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    Gl°  Beaume  None 

Engine  di.stillate 52°  1.0  per  cent  (probably) 

Kero.'-ene   42°  6.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  7.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 21.3°  07.2  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  18.8  per  cent,  or  66.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  lir.st  5  per  cent  of  distillate  from  this  crude  had  the  gravity  47.6°, 

•Analysis  by  H.  X.  Cooper. 
tAnalysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


26-1:  ri:iii()i.i:iM   ix  soi  tiikkx  cAuronxiA. 

and  it  is  probable  that  on  a  larger  seale  a  small  yield  of  52'  distillate 
eonld  be  had.  Both  the  light  products  and  the  heavy  stock  appeared  to 
be  of  good  quality. 


Turner  Oil    Company.     Well    No.   4. 

Gravity 11. o"   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  a  brownish-black  color,  ami  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of   175   c.c,   distilled   from  copixjr,   first   two  cuts   dry,   last   cut   in   a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 14.3  per  cent  41.9°  Beaumg 

Second  cut 13.1  per  cent  30.7° 

Third  cut Gl.G  per  cent  25.0° 

Fixed   carbon 11.0   grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline    Gl°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  14.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  11.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.7°  25.2  per  cent  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.5°  22.3  per  cent  i,  25.0° — 47.5% 

Asphalt "D"  27.5  per  cent,  or  96.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  ran  a  little  dark  from  the  crude  still  but  treated 
out  readily  and  very  clean.  The  lubricating  stock  gave  a  reduced  oil 
of  good  color  and  medium  viscosity,  free  from  paraffin. 


4403.* 

Turner  Oil   Company.     Well    No.   7. 

Gravity IS.3^   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  a  brownish-black  color  and  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  last  out  in  a 
current  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  cbke. 

First  cut 14.0  per  cent  41.9°  Beaume 

Second  cut 14.0  per  cent  33.0° 

Third  cut G5.1  per  cent  20.5° 

Fixed  carbon G.9  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

*Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


PUEXTK  niLLS  Giiorr.  2Ho 

On  rediu-tion  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  we  have  the  following  (.-om- 
niercial  analysis: 

Gasoline    61°  Beaum^  None 

Engine  distillate   52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  14.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  14.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28.2°  21.9  per  cent 

Reduced  stock 14.7°  32.S  per  cent 

Asphalt - "D"  17.3  per  cent,  or  G0.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  ran  pale  from  the  still,  and  treated  out  readily  to 
water-white,  sweet  oils.  The  lubricating  stock  was  pale,  sweet  and  of 
good  viscosity.  It  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  fair  color  and  medium 
viscosity,  free  from  paraffin. 

440S.* 
Fidelity  Oil   Company.     Well   No.  8. 

Gravity 19.G=   Beaumr- 

This  is  a  limpid,  brownish-black  oil.  with  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  170  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,   first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in   a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 15.7  per  cent  42.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 10.5  per  cent  30.9° 

Third  cut 6S.5  per  cent  19.7° 

Fixed   carbon   5.3  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas.  and  calculation  of  the 

coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    Gl°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  15.7  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  S.5  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   30.3°  20.G  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock   1G.4°  41.9  per  cent  \  19.7°— 62.59c 

Asphalt "D"  13.3  per  cent,  or  46.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  dark,  but  treated  out  to  fair 
colors  and  good  odor.  The  lubricating  stock  was  rather  bluish,  with  low 
viscosity,  but  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  good  color  and  fair  viscosity,  with 
traces  of  amorphous  paraffin. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


266  i'i:i'i;()i,i;r.M   i.\   sor 


Home   Oil   Company.      Well    No.  8. 

Gravity  19.7°  Beaume 

This  is  a  modoraloly  limiiid  oil  of  hrowiiisli-hlafk  color  and  swi'ot  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  500  c.c,   distilled   from   foijper,   first   two  cuts  dry,   last  cut   in   a 
currtMit  of  gas.     Distillation  carried   to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 9.8  per  cent  42.8°  Beaume 

Second  cut IG.l  per  cent  32.2° 

Third  cut 68.5  per  cent  21.5° 

Fixed  carbon    5.G  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline    01°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52"  None 

Kerosene 42°  10.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  14.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.0°  24.6  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.3°  36.9  per  cent  \  21.5°— 61.5% 

Aspiialt : "D"  14.0  per  cent,  or  49.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  in-otliuts  from  this  oil  ran  dark,  but  treated  out  to  very 
sweet  oils  of  fair  color.  The  heavy  distillate  was  rather  dark  and 
bluish,  but  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  good  color  and  viscosity.  This 
treated  out  to  a  17.1°  engine  oil  of  rather  low  viscosity,  but  having  a 
fine  red  color  and  green  over  tone,  and  free  from  paraffin. 

4410.* 

Warner   Oil   Company.     Well    No.   9. 

Gravity   20.5°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  mild  odor. 
DistiUatio7i. 

Sample  of  125  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,   first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in   a 
current  df  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 18.2  per  cent  41.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 7.8  per  cent  31.1° 

Third  cut 66.7  per  cent  19.5° 

Fixed   carbon    7.3  grams  per  100  c.c. 


100.0  per  cent 


Analysis   by  J.  P.  P. 


rUEXTE    HILLS    GROUP.  267 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Casoline    Cl°  Beaume  None 

Kiiiiine  distillate 52''  None 

Koroseno 42°  16.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  10.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.0°  17.S  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Kcduced  stock IS.""  37.9  per  cent  \  19.5°— 55.7% 

Asphalt   "D"  18.3  per  cent,  or  64.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  kerosene  from  this  stock  was  of  average  color,  and  took  the  acid 
well.  The  heavy  distillate  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  good  color  and  high 
viscosity,  but  showing  a  little  paraffin. 

7435.* 

Home  Oil   Company.     Well    No.   15. 

Gravity   20.7°  BeaumC; 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  *302°  F 4.2  per  cent  50.5°  Beaume 

302   to   392° 9.6  per  cent  38.4° 

302   to   482° 14.0  per  cent  31.4° 

4S2    to   572° 14.7  per  cent  26.1° 

.".72''  to  grade— a 23.0  per  cent  22.0° 

572°  to  grade — b 16.8  per  cent  22.7' 

Asphalt    15.7  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    2.0perceut 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  ecpiivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    01°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  3.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  6.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  18.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 22.9°  55.3  per  cent 

Asphalt   "D*  15.7  per  cent 

Loss 2.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

2451. t 
Murphy  Oil   Company.     Well    No.  4. 

Gravity   21.0°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil.  with  a  groenish-black  color,  and  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Di.stiUation. 
A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.     Residue 
from  this  distillation  reduced  to  "D"'  asphalt  in  vacuum.     Luhricatiug  stock 

'Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 
tAnalysis  by  A^■ayne  Colver. 


2(nS  i'i:ii;()i,i;i\i    in'  soutiikux  ('AL1foi!NIA. 

from  this  run  n'duced  to  an  1S.<)°  stock  in  vaounni.     The  results  from  tlie 

three  distillations  are: 
Crude  oil : 

Relow  302°  F 2.12  per  cent  r>3.0°  Beaume 

302   to   niS° 23.0  per  cent  38.2° 

Krsidue  above  518° 73.9  per  cent  13.0° 

100.0  per  cent 
llesiduc  from  above  : 

T^uhricatin.ir  stock .11.2  per  cent  22.0°  Beanmd 

.Vsiilialt     22.7  per  cent  (Jrade  "D" 

73.0 
Lubricating  stock  from  above  : 

Fuel  distillate 15.4  per  cent  31.8°  Beaum6 

Reduced  stock 35.8  per  cent  18.0° 

51.2 
Oil  bringing  these  figures  together,  they  give  the  following  eomniereial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    01°  Beaume  None 

Engine   distillate 52°  3.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  15.0  per  cent                          , 

Stove  oil 33°  8.1  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 31.8°  15.4  per  cent 

Reduced   stock   18.0°  35.8  per  cent 

Asphalt    "D"  22.7  per  cent,  or  70.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
4401.* 
Murphy   Oil   Company.     Well   No.   25. 

Gravity 21.2'   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  a  greenish-black  color,  and  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 10.1  per  cent  39.9°  Beaume 

Second   cut 10.0  per  cent  32.2° 

Third   cut ^___  04.4  per  cent  23.0° 

Fi-ved   carbon    9.5   grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  percent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  ol)tained  : 

Gasoline    01°  Beaume  None 

Engine   distillate   52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  12.0  per  cent  (about) 

Stove  oil 33°  10.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28.9°  15.4  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock  __ 18.2°  32.8  percent  \  23.0°^8.2% 

Asphalt   "D"  23.8  per  cent,  or  83.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


PUEXTE    HILLS    CKOUr.  2ii\) 

The  liglit  products  from  this  oil  run  dark  from  the  still,  but  treat  out 
in  a  satisfactory  manner.  The  lubricating  stock  is  sweet,  rather  low  in 
viscftsity,  but  not  burned,  and  of  fair  color.  This  gives  a  reduced  stock 
of  rather  low  viscosity,  but  of  fine  color,  and  free  from  paraffin. 

The  entire  lack  of  naphthas  from  this  oil  is  rather  surprising,  as  the 
sample  was  undoubtedly  fresh.  The  heavy  end  of  the  oil  is  of  first 
quality. 

4493.* 
Whittier  Crude  Oil  Company.     Well   No.   1. 

Gravity : 21.4°  Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  brownish-black  color  and  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  was  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.G  per  cent  49.8°  Beaume 

Second  cut 10.1  per  cent  41.3° 

Third  cut 11.8  per  cent  31.6° 

Fourth  cut 67.9  per  cent  20.2° 

Fixed   carbon 4.6  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas.  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

(gasoline    (')1°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate   .j2°  2.5  per  cent 

Kerosene   __ 42°  13.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  10.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28.8°  17.6  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock   15.8°  45.4  per  cent  \  20.2° — 63.0% 

Asphalt   "D"  11.5  per  cent,  or  40.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  rather  dark,  but  cleared  up  read- 
ily with  the  acid,  to  very  sweet  oils.  The  lubricating  stock  was  very 
mild  and  sweet,  of  fair  color  and  medium  viscosity.  It  gave  a  low 
viscosity  reduced  stock,  which  treated  out  to  a  medium  red-engine  oil  of 
17.5^  Beaume,  of  rather  Ioav  viscosity,  and  free  from  paraffin. 

4411.* 
Murphy  OH   Company.     Well   No.  23. 

Gravity   22.0°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  showing  a  slight  green  tinge,  and  having  a 
mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  230  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.3  per  cent  49.4°  Beaume 

Second  cut 7.1  per  cent  42.3° 

Third  cut 24.2  per  cent  32.7° 

Fourth  cut 58.7  per  cent  20.9° 

Fi.xcd   carbon    4.7  grams  per  100  c.c. 

*  100.0  per  cent 

*.Analysis   by  J.  P.  P. 


270  n:i'i!(»ij:iM    in   soitiikrx  califohnia. 

On  reduction  of  the  lubricating  stock  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calcula- 
tion of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  commercial  analysis  is  as  follows : 

Gasoline    <>1°  Boaiime  None 

Engine  distillate M"  3.0  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  11.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  22.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 27.3°  23.0  per  cent  /  Slop  dLstilhite 

Reduced  stock 16.2°  29.2  per  cent  \  20.9°— 52.2% 

Asphalt "D"  11;8  per  cent,  or  41.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  very  pale  and  sweet,  and  took  the 
acid  Avell.     The  character  of  the  lubricating  stock  was  not  noted. 

Murphy   Oil   Company.     Well    No.   2. 

(4ravily    --^-l       U'-aume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid,  greenish-black  oil.  with  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
X  0.8)  for  oxidation  during  evaporation.  The  original  figures  are  as 
follows : 

Below  302°  F 5.2  per  cent  55.0°  Beaume 

302   to   518° 27.3  per  cent  38.4° 

Residue  above  518° 65.0  per  cent  15.0° 

Loss    2.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
After  evaporation  of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  the  above 

figures    are    approximately    equivalent  to    the    following    commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate   52°  10.0  per  cent 

Kerosene   ^_  42°  12.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil  and  lubricants 58.9  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  18.6  per  cent,  or  65.3  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
4495.t 
Whittier  Crude  Oil  Company.     Well  No.  12. 

(Jravity   2:!.l'    Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  exactly  the  same  appearance  as  No.  4494. 
jjistillatioii. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distilled  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 7.6  per  cent  60.6°  Beaume 

Second  cut 6.3  per  cent  50.2° 

Third  cut 7.2  per  cent  41.7° 

Fourth   cut 13.5  per  cent  32.6° 

Fifth  cut 59.8  per  cent  20.0° 

Fixed  carbon   __ 5.6  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

*Aiialysi.s  by   Wayne  Colvor. 
tAnalysis  by  J.  P.   P. 


ITKN'TK    II  I  I, I. s    Gitori'.  271 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaiime  7.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  5.0  per  cent 

Keroseile 42°  8.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  13.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 28.4°  19.0  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.8°  32.5  per  cent )  20.0°— 51.5% 

Asphalt "D"  14.0  per  cent,  or  49.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  ran  yellow,  but  treated  out  fairly 
well  with  the  test  acid.  The  lubricating  stock  had  a  very  rich  green 
tone,  fair  color,  low  viscosity  and  mild  odor.  On  reduction  this  gave  a 
medium  viscosity  reduced  stock,  Avith  some  crystallization.  The  red  oil 
prepared  from  this  stock  had  a  good  red  color  and  a  fine  green  outer 
tone,  with  a  viscosity  normal  to  the  gravity,  15.0°  Beaume. 

This  crude  does  not  handle  quite  so  well  as  No.  4494,  and  shoAvs  more 
paraffin,  which  is  of  the  amorphous  consistency,  thus  reducing  the  value 
of  the  heavy  end  of  the  oil. 

2470.* 

Murphy  Oil  Company.     Well  No.  3. 
Gravity    23.2°    Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil,  of  a  greenish  black  color,  and  a  sweet,  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

A    sample    of   200   c.c,    distilled    from   glass    to   a    temperature   of   518°    F. 
Residue  from  this  distillation  reduced  to  "D"  asphalt  in  vacuum.     Lubri- 
cating stock  from  this  run  reduced  to  a  19.5°  stock  in  vacuum.     The  results 
from  these  three  distillations  are  : 
Crude  oil : 

Below  302°  F 4.9  per  cent  57.0°  Beaume 

302   to   518° 29.4  per  cent  39.3° 

Residue   above   518° G5.7  per  cent  13.2° 

100.0  per  cent 
Residue  from  above  : 

Lubricating  stock 42.0  per  cent  24.5°  Beaume 

Asphalt    23.7  per  cent  Soft  "D" 

65.7  per  cent 
Lubricating  stock  from  above  : 

Fuel  distillate 11.0  per  cent  33.2°  Beaume 

Reduced  stock 31.0  per  cent  19.5° 

42.0  per  cent 
♦Analysis  by  Wayne  Colver. 


272  i'i;rK(>i,i:i;M  ix  soitiikux  California. 

On  bringing  tliose  fignres  togothei-.  they  give  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline    Gl°  Beaunu'^  2.0  per  ceut  (about) 

Engine  distillate 52°  4.0  iier  cent  (about) 

Kerosene   42°  IS.O  per  cent  (about) 

Stove  oil 33°  10.3  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 33.2°  11.0  per  cent 

Ileduced  stock 19.5°  31.0  per  cent 

Asphalt 23.7  per  ceut,  or  G9.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

44!t::.* 
Whittier  Crude  Oil   Company.     Well   No.  5. 

Gravity   23.4°   Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  brownish-black  color,  with  a  slight  greenish  tinge,  and 
a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
DistUUition. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.1  per  cent  60.6°  Beaume 

Second   cut   5.1  per  cent  49.3° 

Third  cut 5.5  per  cent  41.8° 

Fourth  cut 22.6  per  cent  32.6° 

Fifth  cut 56.S  per  cent  21.5° 

Fixed   carbon   4.9   grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  inert  gas,  and  calculation 
of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  5.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate   52°  3.0  per  ceut 

Kerosene   42°  10.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  19.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.4°  20.3  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.4°  30.4  per  cent  )  21.5°— 50.7% 

Asphalt   "D"  12.3  per  cent,  or  43.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  ceut 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  rather  dark,  and  treated  out  only 
fairly  Avell.  The  lubricating  stock  was  of  good  color,  sweet  and  of 
medium  viscosit}-.  The  reduced  stock  was  of  high  viscosity  and  rather 
dark — it  treated  out  to  a  17.1°  red  oil  of  good  color,  free  from  paraffin. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


PUEXTE    HILLS    GROUP. 


ra 


4494.* 
Whittier   Crude  Oil   Company.     Weil   No.   8. 

Gravity   24.0'   Reaume 

This  is  a  limpid,  brownisli-black  oil,  of  a  very  mild  aud  sweet  odor. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,   first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 6.2percent  59.7'' Beaume 

Second  cut 5.5  per  cent  51.6° 

Third  cut 11.1  per  cent  41.8° 

Fourth  cut   5.5  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 65.S  per  cent  20.2° 

Fixed  carbon    5.9   grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  la.st  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas.  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaume  4.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  7.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42"  11.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  5.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.4°  17.6  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.1°  39.1  per  cent  (,  20.2°— 56.7% 

Asphalt   "D"  14.8  per  cent,  or  51.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  a  shade  dark,  but  treated  out 
readily  to  white,  sweet  oils.  The  lubricating  stock  had  normal  color  and 
viscosity,  reduced  to  a  stock  of  low  viscosity  and  rather  dark  color,  and 
treated  out  to  a  red  engine-oil  of  18.0°  Beaume,  of  a  rich  red  color  and 
fine  green  tone.  This  crude  works  very  well  at  both  ends,  and  for  the 
percentages  given  is  a  very  satisfactory  refining  oil. 

*Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


19—63 


274 


ciiArrKi:  xiv. 

COYOTE  AND  ANAHEIM. 

The  producing'  strip  of  tlio  AVhittier  field  Avould,  if  continued  in  a 
straight  line,  cross  section  6,  3-10.  But  there  is  sufficient  evidence  to 
show  that  at  about  the  eastern  limit  of  present  developments,  this  forma- 
tion trends  farther  to  the  north,  taking  an  approximate  east  and  west 
line.  Whether  this  formation  will  ever  be  productive  farther  to  the  east 
than  at  present  is  problematical,  but  it  is  quite  certain  that  the  develop- 
ments in  the  Coyote  hills  are  not  in  any  sense  an  extension  of  the  Whit- 
tier  field  proper. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  weljis  of  the  Coyote  hills  are  located 
on  a  true  anticline,  having  a  strike  approximately  parallel  to  the  main 
fault  back  of  the  Whittier  field.  The  Murphy  wells  on  section  18 
would  appear  to  be  on  the  apex  of  this  fold,  with  the  San  Juan, 
Whittier-Des  Moines  and  Bastanchury  wells  on  the  north  dip.  The 
south  limb,  if  such  an  anticline  indeed  exists,  is  yet  untested. 

The  Coyotes  disappear  a  short  distance  east  of  the  Murphy  welLs,  and 
as  the  surface  of  the  valley  in  this  direction  gives  little  or  no  hint  of  the 
structure  beneath,  it  is  impossible  to  determine  how  far  this  fold 
extends  to  the  east  from  the  Murphy  wells.  On  the  one  hand,  the  rapid 
deepening  between  INIurphy  No.  3  and  Bastanchury  No.  1  would  indicate 
that,  if  it  does  extend  in  this  direction,  it  plunges  so  sharply  as  to  be 
within  reach  of  the  drill  but  a  short  distance.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
failure  of  the  deep  well  of  the  Syndicate,  south  of  Brea  Caiion.  followed 
by  a  discovery  at  a  much  less  depth  in  the  Amalgamated "s  Anaheim 
wells,  indicates  that  such  a  fold  exists  here  also,  whether  or  not  it  con- 
nects with  the  Coyote  anticline.  The  Amalgamated  wells,  it  will  be 
observed,  are  exactly  in  the  line  of  strike  of  the  Coyote  fold.  Consid- 
erable drilling  is  now  under  way  across  the  intervening  distance,  and 
this  point  will  soon  be  determined.  At  present,  the  bounds  of  these  two 
fields,  or  one  field,  as  the  case  maj^  be,  can  not  be  even  guessed. 

In  the  Coyote  group,  five  wells  are  producing,  four  have  l)een  aban- 
doned, and  six  were  being  drilled  in  January,  1912.  In  the  Anaheim 
group,  at  the  same  date,  three  wells  were  producing  and  nine  drilling. 
A  number  of  new^  outfits  have  started  up  since  this  date. 

Coyote  Bills  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  on  the  south- 
east quarter,  northwest  quarter,  section  14,  3-11.  It  was  started  in 
1910,  and  has  never  reached  any  great  depth,  having  had  mechanical 
trouble  from  the  start. 

Standard  Oil  Company — Lcffingwcll.  This  hole  is  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  11,  3-11.     When  last  reported  it  was  drilling  at  3360 


COYOl'K    ANT)    AXAHHTM.  275 

feet,  and  had  not  made  any  discovery  t^  this  time.  This  hole  is  some 
distance  north  of  the  apparent  strike  of  the  fold  on  which  the  Murphy 
wells  are  located. 

Standard  Oil  Compamj — Tolcv.  The  Standard  well  on  the  J.  Toler 
place  is  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  12,  3-11,  and  just  south  of 
the  La  Habra  line  of  the  Pacific  Electric.  AVlien  last  reported,  this  well 
was  drilling  at  about  3500  feet. 

Murphy  Oil  Company — Coyote.  The  five  wells  are  all  on  the  south 
half  of  section  18,  3-10,  and  apparently  on  the  north  limb  of  the  Coyote 
fold,  though  No.  5,  the  well  farthest  to  the  south,  may  be  slightly  south 
of  the  apex. 

Well  No.  1  was  finished  in  the  year  1908,  at  a  depth  of  3300  feet,  and 
was  a  producer.  Being  a  prospect  hole  in  difficult  territory,  this  well 
was  in  bad  condition  when  finished,  and  has  always  given  some  trouble. 
The  fact  that  it  has  never  produced  much  oil  seems  to  be  due  entirely  to 
mechanical  reasons. 

Numbers  2  and  3  were  finished  in  1909,  at  depths  of  3325  feet  and 
3500  feet,  respectively,  and  have  been  very  heavy  producers  of  a  vola- 
tile oil  of  about  30°  gravity,  that  from  No.  3  being  somewhat  the  lighter. 
Certain  peculiarities  of  this  oil  are  indicated  in  the  analyses  below. 

Well  No.  4  was  finished  in  the  year  1910,  at  a  depth  of  3400  feet,  and 
was  a  producer.  This  well  originally  had  much  water  trouble,  but  a 
cementing  job,  finished  in  the  last  months  of  the  year,  corrected  this 
somewhat,  though  this  well  has  never  been  the  equal  in  production  of 
either  No.  2  or  No.  3. 

Well  No.  5  was  finished  in  1912,  and  is  also  a  large  producer.  Its 
depth  is  not  known,  but  it  is  said  to  be  somewhat  deeper  than  any  of  the 
preceding  wells.  No.  6  w^as  rigging  in  January,  1912,  on  the  summit  of 
the  hill,  due  west  of  No.  5. 

These  have  been  among  the  most  profitable  wells  ever  drilled  in  Cali- 
fornia, though  in  their  earlier  history  they  gave  a  great  deal  of  trouble. 
For  some  reasons  not  clear,  but  probably  because  of  the  lack  of  a  firm 
landing  for  water-string,  at  least  the  four  earlier  wells  were  at  first  very 
wet,  and  produced  an  enndsified  oil.  It  is  not  known  just  what  means 
were  taken  to  correct  this  difficulty,  though  it  was  done  by  cementing  in 
some  form,  and  all  are  now  free  from  water  trouble,  and  make  a  dry  oil. 
The  gas  pressure  in  this  formation  is  very  high.  Well  No.  2  when  first 
drilled  was  almost  a  wild  well,  being  controlled  with  some  difficulty.  It 
is  said  to  have  flowed  several  thousand  barrels  per  day,  but  soon  sanded, 
and  repeated  this  whenever  opened  up.  The  well  is  now  controlled  by  a 
steel  cap,  out  of  which  is  taken  a  3/8-inch  tube  some  fifty  feet  long,  con- 
necting with  the  lead  line — the  similar  vent  from  well  No.  4  is  but 
3 /4-inch  inside  diameter.     Through  these  small  vents  the  oil  and  gas 


276  1'i:tr()Li:um  in  soutiierx  California. 

pass  with  such  force  that  even  at  the  vent  of  the  2-inch  lead-line  the 
velocity  is  still  very  high,  and  much  spray  is  thrown  into  the  receiving 
tanks.  The  pressure  on  well  No.  2,  at  the  casing  head  while  flowing 
through  the  vent,  is  even  at  about  450  pounds  per  square  inch,  and  the 
yield  of  this  well  is  said  to  be  very  steady  at  between  three  hundred  and 
four  hundred  barrels  per  day.  No  trouble  with  sanding  is  experienced 
so  long  as  the  tiow  is  thus  restrained.  The  average  actual  output  of  the 
four  wells  in  operation  during  the  j'ear  1911  is  said  to  have  been  close  to 
250  barrels  per  well  per  day. 

International  Oil  Company.  This  well,  located  a  short  distance  down 
the  caiion  (north)  from  Murphy  No.  2,  was  drilled  about  the  year  1900. 
The  depth  of  this  well  is  said  to  have  been  560  feet.  It  found  no  oil, 
but  had  enough  gas  at  one  point  to  lift  the  tools  from  the  hole. 

Whittier-Des  Moines  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  a  well  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  7,  3-10.  It  was 
carried  to  a  depth  slightly  over  3500  feet,  finding  no  pay  oil  to  this 
depth,  though  there  were  colors  of  a  rather  heavy  oil  toward  the  bottom 
of  the  hole.  If  the  anticlinal  structure  indicated  on  the  surface  at  the 
Murphy  wells  is  conformable  to  the  structure  beneath,  this  well  probably 
had  some  distance  to  go  before  finding  the  Coyote  sands.  When  last 
visited  the  well  was  suspended,  and  apparently  had  not  been  worked  on 
for  some  time. 

Skafer  Oil  Company.  The  well  drilled  by  this  company  is  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8.  3-10.  It  was 
abandoned  in  1911,  at  a  depth  of  some  1500  feet,  as  a  spoiled  hole.  This 
well  had  a  great  deal  of  casing  trouble. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — San  Juan.  The  San  Juan  well  of 
the  Union  Oil  Company  is  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  9,  3-10.  This  well  has  been  drilling  for  about  three 
years,  and  at  last  reports  had  reached  a  depth  of  4608  feet  (January, 
1912).  It  was  thought  to  have  passed  through  an  oil  sand,  but  there 
was  so  much  water  that  this  could  not  be  told  with  certainty,  and 
preparations  were  then  being  made  to  cement. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Bastanckury.  The  Bastanchury 
wells  of  the  Union  Oil  Company  are  along  the  west  line  of  section  16, 
3-10,  due  east  of  the  Murphy  wells. 

Well  No.  1  was  finished  in  1909  at  a  depth  of  4444  feet,  and  was  an 
excellent  producer,  flowing  several  hundred  barrels  per  day  of  an  oil  of 
about  20°  Beaume.  To  reach  this  depth  the  casing  had  been  reduced  to 
2^  inch,  and  when  a  string  of  tools  was  lost  in  cleaning,  they  could  never 
be  recovered.  The  well  was  thus  choked  down  to  about  twenty  barrels 
per  day,  which  it  is  still  doing  on  the  pump.  Well  No.  2  was  located  a 
short  distance  to  the  north,  and  was  a  shallow,  .spoiled  hole. 


COYOTE    AND    AXAlIEIif.  ^'' 

Well  No.  3  is  perhaps  one  half  mile  east  of  No.  1,  and  in  the  line  of 
strike  from  this  and  from  the  :\rurphy  wells.  It  is  now  drilling  at  about 
-1000  feet,  and  is  reported  to  have  passed  through  a  nonproductive  sand, 
giving  a  small  amount  of  oil. 

It  would  appear  from  the  surface  indications  that  well  No.  1  is  some- 
Avhat  down  the  dip  from  the  IMurphy  wells,  the  strike  of  the  fold  being 
apparently  somewhat  south  of  east.  This  view  would  be  borne  out  by 
the  much  greater  depth  of  this  well,  but  in  this  connection  the  change  in 
gravity  from  30^  to  20°  in  this  distance  is  hard  to  explain.  It  is  pos- 
sible that  the  fold  plunges  in  this  direction,  though  this  would  not 
explain  the  decrease  in  gravity  of  the  oil,  and  there  is  also  the  possibility 
of  a  fault  intervening  between  the  two  groups  of  wells.  As  the  surface 
of  the  country  is  almost  completely  covered,  and  but  slight  evidences  of 
the  structure  visible,  considerable  drilling  will  be  required  before  the 
actual  structure  of  this  territory  is  known  with  any  degree  of  certainty. 

Fisher  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  drilling  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  14,  3-10.  In  ]\Iareh,  1912,  this  well  was  reported  as 
drilling  at  about  2000  feet. 

Standard  Oil  Company— Yriarte.  On  the  Yriarte  tract  the  Standard 
Oil  Company  is  drilling  one  well,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
14,  3-10.  In  March,  1912,  this  well  was  reported  to  be  approximately 
3500  deep,  or  deeper  than  the  earlier  wells  on  the  Anaheim  lease  just 
east  of  it.  At  this  depth  the  water  had  not  been  shut  off,  and  the  pos- 
sible productiveness  of  the  well  was  not  yet  known. 

Amalgamated  Oil  Company — Anaheim.  On  the  Anaheim  Water 
Company  lease,  on  the  west  half  of  southeast  quarter  of  section  13,  3-10, 
the  Amalgamated  Oil  Companj^  has  five  producing  wells,  and  several 
drilling.  Well  No.  1  was  finished  in  the  year  1911,  having  been  drilled 
very  rapidly  with  a  heavy  rotarj^  outfit.  In  January  of  this  year  it  was 
on  the  beam,  and  making,  it  is  said,  up  to  500  barrels  per  day  of  an  oil 
of  about  16°  Beaume.  Well  No.  2  is  also  a  producer.  No.  3  is  a  test 
well,  and  in  March,  1912,  was  down  3975  feet  and  drilling,  having 
passed  through  the  sands  found  in  the  other  wells.  Well  No.  4  is  a  pro- 
ducer at  about  3100  feet,  but  No.  5  is  said  to  have  carried  upper  water 
into  the  sands,  and  to  have  but  a  small  output.  The  numbers  up  to  12 
have  been  rigged,  and  drilling  is  actively  under  way  on  this  lease. 

Aside  from  No.  3,  the  depths  of  the  wells  on  this  lease  run  from  3300 
feet  to  3500  feet,  and  it  is  said  that  the  formation  lies  rather  flat.  The 
illustration  in  the  margin  shoAvs  the  log  of  one  of  these  wells. 

Vnion  Oil  Company— Graham  Loftiis.  On  the  north  half,  and  the 
east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  13,  3-10,  a  lease  from  the 
Graham-Loftus  Oil  Company,  the  Union  Oil  Company  is  drilling  several 
wells,  close  to  the  Anaheim  line.  None  of  these  wells  have  reached  a 
depth  to  give  much  information. 


278  i'i:i'K()i,i;i.\i    in   sor'niintx   California. 

GIGS.* 
Amalgamated   Oil  Company.     Anaheim   Well   No.   1. 

Giaviry  16.4°  Beaume 

Tlii.<i  is  a  moderately  thick  oil  of  a  brownish-black  color,  with  a  mild  and  sweet 
odor. 

J)  is  filiation. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 2.5  per  cent  52.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 7.4  per  cent  41.4° 

Third  cut 13.1  per  cent  32.8° 

Fourth   cut   65.8  per  cent  22.5° 

Fixed  carbon 11.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
fixed  carbon  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline - 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine   distillate 52°  2.5  per  cent 

Kerosene    42°  '^.O  -l^;&pev  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  13.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.6°  24.5  per  cent  (  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.7°  24.5  per  cent  ^22.5°— 49.0% 

Asphalt    "D"  28.0  per  cent,  or  98.3  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  kerosene  stock  from  this  crude  ran  rather  dark,  but  with  the  test 
acid  treated  out  to  a  fair  white  color,  and  a  very  mild  odor.  The  stove 
oil  contained  sulfur,  and  had  a  foul  odor,  which  did  not  yield  to  treat- 
ment, but  did  not  appear  to  be  decomposed. 

The  lubricating  stock  had  a  good  color  and  medium  viscosity,  and  the 
reduced  stock  had  the  same  qualities,  but  both  showed  a  little  paraffin, 
which  commenced  to  separate  above  75°  F. 

4407. 
Union   Oil   Company.     Coyote.     Bastanchury  No.  1. 

Gravity 21.0°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil.  of  a  brownish-black  color  and  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  in  a  current  of  gas.     The  figures  for 

the   light  pi-oducts  were  spoiled,   and   the  sample  could  not  be  duplicated. 

Distillation  started  in  the  lower  40s,  and  the  oil  gave  a  small  yield  of  kero- 

-sene.     The  decomposition  noted  with  the  Murphy  samples  did  not  take  place 

on  this  oil. 

The  latter  part  of  the  lubricating  stock  .solidified  as  it  came  from  the  still. 

:  ,:i;    •;,  .^  and  contains  a  great  deal  of  paraffin.     The  oil  yielded  19.0  per  cent  of  "D" 

,^  i  -     .,,     asphalt. 


f? 


'j*A:Haiysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


COYOTE    AXJ)    AXAIIEIM.  '279 

4 4  OH.* 
Murphy   Oil    Company.      Coyote.      Wells   2   and    3,    a    mixture. 

<ir;ivity,  Well  No.  2 'M.l^  Keauuie 

<;ravity.  Well  No.  o 29.2°  Beaume 

Both  the.se  samples  were  very  limpid  oils,  with  a  brownish  color  and  mild,  gassy 
odor.     The  sample  from  No.  3  contained  a  little  emulsified  water. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  la.st  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Di-stillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 9.3  per  cent  (!0.S°  Beaume 

Second  cur G.O  per  cent  7j0.2° 

Third  cut 16.7  per  cent  41.9° 

Fourth   cut    41.1  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 1G.4  per  cent  23.0° 

Fixed    carbon    10.5  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  quantity  of  lubricating  stock 'was  too  small  to  reduce.  On  calcu- 
lation of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

<Tnsolino 01°   Beaume  9.0  per  ceut 

Engine   uistillate   52°  5.0  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  17.0  per  cent 

Ntove  oil 33°  41.0  per  cent 

^liddlings  and  lubricants-, 23.0°  l.S  per  cent 

Asphalt    "D"  26.2  per  cent,  or  92.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

This  oil  behaved  in  a  very  peculiar  manner  on  distillation.  The  tirst 
two  cuts  came  off  white  and  sweet,  and  were  of  the  best  quality.  Decom- 
position commenced  at  about  the  middle  of  the  kerosene  cut,  and  became 
very  noticeable  while  the  stove  oil  was  running,  and  though  all  the  condi- 
tions were  the  same  as  were  observed  with  a  great  many  other  samples 
in  this  series  (4400  and  5400  numbers),  the  gravity  hung  at  33°  for  so 
long  that  practically  all  the  lubricating  stock  was  broken  down  to  this 
gravity.  The  last  end  of  the  stove  oil,  and  the  small  amount  of  lubri- 
cating stock  taken  off,  showed  crystalline  paraiBn,  and  were  badly 
burned.  It  would  be  almost  impossible  to  produce  this  amount  of 
decomposition  with  any  ordinary  California  oil. 

The  yield  of  asphalt  stated  is  no  doubt  too  large,  the  percentage  of 
coke  being  increased  by  the  breaking  down  of  the  heavy  stock.  This  end 
of  the  oil  seems  to  be  too  tender  to  be  of  much  value.  The  light  prod- 
ucts, including  kerosene,  could  be  taken  off  without  much,  if  any,  burn- 
ing when  working  on  a  larger  scale. 


♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P., 


280  i-KTi!()i.i:r>r  ix  sorTiiKnx  California. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

PUENTE  WELLS. 

The  wells  of  the  Puente  group  are  situated  on  the  Rowland  and 
Grazide  tracts  of  the  Puente  Rancho,  on  the  east  half  of  section  34,  and 
the  west  half  of  section  35,  in  township  2  south,  range  10  west,  S.  B.  M. 
All  the  producing  wells  are  located  in  a  compact  group,  though  scattered 
over  the  surrounding  territory  are  nine  unsuccessful  prospect  wells, 
which  will  be  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Puente  wells  proper. 

This  is  one  of  the  earliest  locations  on  which  successful  oil  develop- 
ment was  carried  out,  well  No.  1  of  Rowland  &  Lacy,  the  predecessors 
of  the  Puente  Oil  Company,  having  been  drilled  about  the  year  1880. 
It  is  but  natural  that  in  the  intervening  years  much  attention  should 
have  been  paid  to  the  geology  of  this  territory,  yet  it  must  be  admitted 
that  many  details  as  to  the  structure  of  this  formation  are  open  to  doubt. 
It  will  be  sufficient  to  state  here  that  the  producing  formations  in  this 
group  are  of  firm  and  consistent  sandstones  underlying  shales  of  varying 
hardness,  the  general  structure  being  that  of  a  modified  anticline,  Avith 
its  axis  lying  roughly  east  and  west,  and  probably  considerably  cross- 
folded  or  faulted. 

The  axis  of. this  anticline  is  found  near  the  north  and  south  center  of 
the  group  of  wells,  and  appears  to  take  a  course  slightly  south  of  east, 
plunging  a  little  in  this  direction.  To  the  east,  the  sands  are  found  in 
place,  and  carry  some  oil,  but  have  not  been  commercially  productive. 
To  the  west  several  wells  have  been  drilled  which  have  found  the  shal- 
lower sands  too  drj^  for  profitable  operation,  but  it  does  not  appear  that 
any  of  these  wells  went  deep  enough  to  reach  the  lower  sands,  which 
have  been  discovered  in  later  wells. 

On  the  south  the  deep  Scott  well,  which  was  entire]}^  l)arren,  sets  a 
definite  limit  to  operations,  and  the  gradual  diminution  in  productive- 
ness of  the  sands  as  wells  are  drilled  in  this  direction  indicates  that  the 
limit  of  profitable  operation  has  already  been  nearly  reached.  The 
•results  from  the  wells  to  the  north,  on  the  contrary,  do  not  show  any 
decrease  in  oil-carrying  capacity,  and  as  the  dip  is  gentle,  and  the 
deepest  Avells  so  far  drilled  are  shallow,  there  can  be  no  present  limit  set 
to  developments  in  this  direction. 

Well  Records. 

The  first  well  of  Rowland  &  Lacy  was  drilled  about  the  year  1880,  to 
a  depth  of  150  feet.  Well  No.  2,  drilled  in  1882,  had  the  same  depth, 
and  well  No.  3,  of  about  the  same  age,  was  260  feet  deep.  These  wells 
have  long  ceased  to  produce,  but  an  old  report  states  that  they  made 
some  forty  or  fifty  barrels  per  month  (in  the  year  1887)  of  a  "rather 


m^ENTE    WELES.  1281 

thick  maltha  of  about  20°  Beaiime. "  These  wells  were  just  south  of  the 
bed  of  a  eauou  folloAving  the  axis  of  the  anticline.  North  of  the  bed  of 
this  canon  was  a  line  of  small  croppings  of  brea,  which  have  since  dis- 
appeared. It  is  to  be  supposed  that  these  first  wells  penetrated  only  an 
upper  "tar  sand,"  possibly  only  a  seepage  deposit  due  to  a  little  local 
fault  along  the  anticlinal  axis. 

Well  No.  4  was  drilled  in  1886,  and  was  970  feet  deep.  Well  No.  5, 
drilled  in  the  same  year,  was  1220  feet  deep,  and  No.  6,  finished  in  1887, 
was  750  feet  deep.  These  wells  were  east  and  north  of  the  discover}^ 
wellSj  and  therefore  near  the  west  center  of  the  group.  During  the  first 
j^ear  of  their  existence  these  wells  averaged  about  100  barrels  per  day 
for  the  three.  No.  4  being  the  most  productive.  The  gravity  of  this  oil 
approximated  32°  Beaume.  These  wells,  together  with  well  No.  7, 
which  was  drilled  in  1888  to  a  depth  of  867  feet,  are  still  on  the  pump, 
though  No.  8,  drilled  in  1887  to  a  depth  of  925  feet,  was  exhausted  and 
abandoned  after  twenty  years  of  service.  It  will  be  noted  that  No.  7 
js  the  farthest  producer  to  the  west,  while  No.  8  is  surrounded  by  pro- 
ducing wells.  Considerable  local  variations  of  this  sort  are  noted 
throughout  this  territory,  an  explanation  lying  in  the  fact  that  oil  is 
found,  not  in  extended  sand  beds,  but  in  small  lenses,  varying  in  thick- 
ness and  productive  value,  and  often  of  so  slight  an  extent  as  to  be 
found  in  hut  a  single  well. 

Well  No.  9,  drilled  in  1889  to  a  depth  of  960  feet,  is  still  in  service. 
No.  10  appears  to  have  been  too  far  to  the  west  to  find  production  in  the 
upper  sand,  which  was  the  only  one  known  at  the  time  this  hole  was  put 
dowTa.  It  was  abandoned  at  955  feet,  with  1^  barrels  heavy  oil  at  540 
feet,  but  nothing  below.  Nos.  11  and  13  were  producers  at  1055  and 
1075  feet,  respectively,  and  were  exhausted  after  pumping  for  thirteen 
and  sixteen  years.  Nos.  12  and  14  were  drilled  in  1889  to  depths  of 
1060  and  1140  feet,  and  are  still  producing.  These  wells  are  on  the 
north  line  of  developments.  Well  No.  15,  toward  the  west  center  of 
the  group,  and  No.  16,  toward  the  northwest  corner,  were  drilled  in 
1891,  and  are  still  on  the  production  list.  Well  No.  17,  which  was  far 
to  the  northwest  of  any  of  the  other  wells,  was  drilled  in  the  same  year 
to  a  depth  of  1450  feet,  and  was  apparently  a  dry  hole. 

Well  No.  18  was  not  finished  until  1898,  and  was  abandoned  at  a 
depth  of  1440  feet.  It  is  surrounded  by  producers  of  less  depth,  and 
is  probably  a  spoiled  hole,  though  the  reason  for  abandoning  is  not 
known  with  certainty. 

Well  No.  19  is  just  west  of  No.  3,  one  of  the  original  shallow  lioles, 
and  is  probably  very  close  to  the  apex  of  the  anticline.  It  was  drilled 
in  1892,  and  is  still  a  producer  at  a  depth  of  710  feet.  This  well  is  a 
remarkable  illustration  of  the  permanence  of  shallow  holes  in  moderateh* 
hard  formation. 


282  TKTU01.EU]\[    IN    SOUTIIKRX    CALIFORNIA. 

Nos.  20,  21,  22  and  23  were  drilled  between  1892  and  1895,  and  are 
still  on  the  pump.  The  depths  of  these  wells  is  900  feet,  1200  feet,  1090 
feet  and  1213  feet,  respectively.  These  wells  are  all  on  the  south  limb 
of  the  antieline,  but  not  very  far  down  the  dip.  Well  No.  24,  drilled  in 
1893,  is  near  the  center  of  the  group  in  an  east  and  west  direction,  but 
is  at  the  south  limit  of  developments.  This  hole  was  abandoned  at  a 
depth  of  1455  feet,  when  drilled,  and  is  said  to  have  shown  but  very 
little  oil.  This  depth,  of  course,  is  not  enough  to  reach  the  lower  sands, 
if  they  exist  on  this  limb.  Well  No.  25,  which  is  in  about  the  same  posi- 
tion on  the  formation,  but  farther  west,  was  put  on  the  pump  at  1265 
feet,  but  after  producing  a  small  quantity  for  five  and  one  half  years, 
was  abandoned  as  exhausted.  This  well  made  8  barrels  daily  when 
drilled,  but  in  two  years  had  dropped  to  3  barrels  daily. 

Wells  having  numbers  from  26  to  35  were  drilled  between  1893  and 
1896,  and  are  still  producers.  The  depth  of  these  holes  ranges  from 
1175  feet  to  1540  feet.  They  are  all  near  the  apex,  or  a  short  distance 
down  the  south  dip. 

Wells  No.  36  and  No.  40  were  in  a  straight  line  with  the  apex  of  the 
anticline — that  is,  they  ~^^-ould  be  located  on  the  apex  if  the  formation 
extended  in  a  straight  line  this  far  to  the  east.  They  were  about  one 
and  one  half  miles  east  of  the  center  of  the  group,  and  on  the  Rancho 
Rincon.  These  wells  were  drilled  in  1897,  to  1375  feet  and  1605  feet, 
respectively,  and  w^hile  they  showed  traces  of  oil,  were  abandoned  as 
unprofitable.  It  is  said  that  these  wells  passed  through  several  thin 
sands  similar  in  character  to  those  met  farther  west,  but  containing  very 
little  oil. 

Well  No.  38  is  almost  due  south  of  No.  10,  and  at  the  western  limit  of 
development,  in  the  line  of  strike  with  the  Discovery  wells.  This  was  a 
dry  hole  at  1275  feet. 

Wells  No.  37,  1200  feet  deep.  No.  39,  1175  feet.  No.  41,  1455  feet. 
No.  42,  1290  feet,  and  No.  43,  1450  feet,  were  all  drilled  in  this  same 
year,  and  are  still  on  the  pump.  Well  No.  44  is  to  the  northeast  of 
other  Wells  of  this  group.  It  was  drilled  in  1898,  is  1610  feet  deep,  and 
was  abandoned  as  exhausted  after  producing  for  ten  years.  Well  No.  46, 
which  is  due  west  of  No.  44,  but  somewhat  closer  to  the  apex  of  the 
anticline,  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  and  was  abandoned  after  pump- 
ing for  two  months.  This  was  probably  due  to  mechanical  defects,  as 
No.  51,  drilled  immediately  adjacent  to  this  hole,  and  but  slightly 
deeper  (1215  feet)  is  still  producing.  Well  No.  47,  one  location  south- 
east of  No.  44,  was  abandoned  at  1030  feet,  and  never  produced — it  was 
probably  a  spoiled  hole. 

Wells  numbered  from  48  to  55  were  drilled  during  the  years  1898  and 
1899.  and  are  still  pumping.     The  depths  of  these  holes  ranges  from 


PUENTE   WELLS.  288 

1215  feet  to  1685  feet,  which  is  from  two  to  three  hundred  feet  greater 
llian  the  depths  of  adjacent  holes  drilled  a  few  years  earlier. 

AVells  having'  numbers  from  56  to  61  were  drilled  in  the  years  1900  to 
1902  and  are  still  producing.  The  depths  of  these  wells  ranges  from 
1172  feet  to  1796  feet.  Well  No.  62  is  some  distance  to  the  southeast, 
and  the  farthest  south  of  any  well  in  the  group.  It  was  drilled  in  1901, 
is  1505  feet  deep,  and  is  apparently  a  dry  hole. 

Well  No.  64  is  a  prospect  hole,  a  short  distance  southeast  of  No.  38, 
and  though  carried  much  deeper,  was  entirely  barren.  This  well  was 
drilled  in  1902,  and  is  1614  feet  deep.  Numbers  63,  65,  66  and  67  were 
drilled  in  1902  and  1903,  and  are  still  producing.  These  wells  are 
respectively  1064  feet,  1927  feet,  1412  feet  and  1450  feet  deep. 

Well  No.  68,  located  between  Nos.  24  and  25,  but  farther  north, 
pumped  one  year  and  was  then  abandoned  as  exhausted.  This  well  went 
to  a  depth  of  1655  feet,  or  440  feet  deeper  than  No.  25.  No.  69,  however, 
which  is  in  a  corresponding  position  to  the  west  of  No.  25,  was  carried 
to,  a  depth  of  1305  feet,  and  was  a  dry  hole.  This  well  is  farther  up  on 
the  formation  than  No.  25,  and  80  feet  deeper,  yet  the  latter  pumped 
for  five  years.  No.  70  was  the  last  well  drilled  in  1903.  and  is  a  producer 
at  1600  feet. 

No  further  development  work  was  done  until  the  year  1910,  when  wells 
No.  71  and  72  were  drilled,  to  depths  of  2340  feet  and  2226  feet,  respec- 
tively. It  will  be  noted  that  these  wells  are  nearly  1000  feet  deeper  than 
adjacent  wells  previously  drilled,  and  it  is  reported  that  they  have 
tapped  lower  and  more  prolific  sands,  whose  existence  was  not  previously, 
suspected.  Prospecting  has  not  yet  been  advanced  sufficiently  to  deter- 
mine the  area  of  these  lower  sands.  The  oil  produced  by  well  No.  71  has 
the  gravity  26.3-,  which  is  about  1^°  heavier  than  the  present  average 
from  the  lea.se. 

On  the  Rowland  tract,  the  Puente  Oil  Company  drilled  eleven  wells, 
numbered  Rowland  No.  1  to  Rowland  No.  11.  These  wells  lie  to  the  east 
of  those  above  described.  But  two  of  these  wells  are  productive,  No.  4, 
which  lies  close  to  the  main  body  of  producers,  and  is  1400  feet  deep, 
and  No.  6,  which  appears  to  have  found  a  locally  rich  spot,  as  it  is  some 
distance  east  of  a  number  of  failures.  This  well  is  1809  feet  deep, 
which  considering  its  position  on  the  formation  is  shallower  than  either 
No.  8  or  No.  5,  which  were  dry  holes  at  1810  feet  and  1740  feet.  Well 
No.  3,  the  farthest  to  the  east,  was  a  dry  hole  at  1740  feet.  Well  No.  11, 
located  just  north  of  the  strike  of  the  anticlinal  axis,  was  carried  to  a 
depth  of  2281  feet,  and  is  reported  to  have  shown  only  traces.  These 
results  seem  to  indicate  that  at  least  the  upper  sands,  and  possibly  the 
lower  also,  considering  the  results  from  No.  11.  are  not  commercially 
productive  this  far  to  the  east. 


284  iMri'Hoi.KrM  ix  southern  califorxia. 

But  little  information  is  available  as  to  the  former  output  of  the 
Puente  wells,  though  a  table  published  in  1894  gives  the  initial  output 
of  a  number  of  the  older  wells.  (Bulletin  ]1,  State  IMinins'  Bureau, 
W.  L.  Watts.) 

Well  No.  4,  drilled  in  1885,  had  an  initial  output  of  10  barrels  per 
day  of  rather  heavy  oil,  which  in  1894  had  shrunk  to  5  barrels  per  day, 
or  an  annual  decrease  of  about  5  per  cent.  This  well  is  still  on  the  pro- 
ducing list.  Well  No.  5,  located  close  to  No.  4,  shrunk  from  25  barrels 
daily  in  1886  to  6  barrels  daily  in  1894,  an  annual  decrease  of  about 
9  per  cent.  This  well  made  a  much  lighter  oil  than  No.  4 — atmut  30° 
Beaume. 

Well  No.  10,  at  the  western  end  of  the  group,  made  only  al)0ut  1^ 
barrels  of  heavy  oil,  and  was  never  produced.  Well  No.  7,  about  400 
feet  east,  started  off  in  the  year  1887  with  35  barrels  per  day  of  30^  oil, 
but  in  1894  had  dropped  to  3  barrels  daily — this  well  is  still  pumping. 
Well  No.  16,  about  300  feet  east  of  No.  7,  was  drilled  in  1891,  and 
started  off  with  35  barrels  of  the  same  quality  of  oil.  In  1894  this  had 
dropped  to  8  barrels,  and  the  well  is  still  pumping. 

Well  No.  12,  which  is  on  the  north  line,  started  off  in  1888  with  35 
barrels  of  a  25°  oil.  In  1894  this  had  dropped  to  5  barrels,  but  the  well 
is  still  producing.  No.  14,  which  is  some  distance  to  the  southeast,  but 
still  on  the  north  line  of  production,  started  off  in  1889  with  10  barrels 
daily  of  heavy  oil  (probably  about  20°  Beaume),  and  had  dropped  to 
4  barrels  in  1894,  but  is  still  pumping. 

W^ell  No.  15,  toward  the  west  center  of  the  group,  made  35  barrels 
daily  of  a  30°  gravity  oil,  when  brought  in  during  the  year  1890.  In 
1894,  after  four  years'  pumping,  it  was  still  making  25  barrels  daily,  and 
is  now  pumping.  No.  13,  500  feet  to  the  northeast,  came  in  during  1889 
with  15  barrels  daily  of  30°  oil,  and  in  1894  was  making  5  barrels  per 
day.     This  well  was  abandoned  as  exhausted  in  the  year  1902. 

Well  No.  8,  450  feet  southeast  of  No.  13,  and  due  east  of  No.  15.  was 
drilled  in  1888,  and  had  an  initial  output  of  19  barrels  of  30°  oil.  In 
1894  this  had  fallen  to  4  barrels  daily,  and  the  well  was  abandoned  as 
exhausted  in  1908,  after  pumping  twenty  years.  Well  No.  11,  400  feet 
southeast  of  No.  8,  and  close  to  the  center  of  the  group,  was  drilled  in 
1888,  and  produced  12  barrels  daily  of  a  25°  oil.  In  1894  this  had 
dropped  to  4^  barrels  per  day,  and  the  hole  was  abandoned  in  1904. 
after  pumping  sixteen  years. 

Wells  No.  23,  22  and  26  are  located  near  the  center  of  the  group,  in 
an  east  and  west  direction,  but  near  the  southern  limit  of  production, 
and  in  a  line  parallel  to  the  strike.  No.  23,  farthest  to  the  west,  was 
drilled  in  1892,  came  in  at  60  barrels  per  day  of  35°  oil,  and  in  1894  had 
dropped  to  15  barrels  daily.  No.  22  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  came 
in  with  150  barrels  of  the  same  oil,  and  in  1894  had  fallen  to  65  l)arrels. 


PTTENTE    WELLS.  285 

Xo.  26,  900  feet  farther  east,  Avas  drilled  in  1893,  and  had  an  initial  out- 
put of  125  barrels  of  the  same  oil,  which  had  fallen  in  one  year  to 
25  barrels  daily.  These  three  wells  are  still  producing.  Well  No.  25, 
located  between  No.  23  and  No.  22,  but  about  300  feet  to  the  south,  came 
in  with  8  barrels  daily  of  heavy  oil,  which  in  one  year  dropped  to 
3  barrels  per  day.  This  well  was  pumped  for  five  and  a  half  years,  and 
then  abandoned  as  exliausted.  No.  24,  located  between  No.  22  and 
No.  26,  had  only  a  very  little  heavy  oil,  and  was  never  pumped. 

It  appears  that  where  there  was  some  little  gas  pressure,  as  in  the 
wells  last  mentioned,  a  high  initial  production  was  had,  but  that  this 
broke  very  rapidly  to  a  small  output  which  was  sustained  for  a  long 
time.  Wells  showing  less  gas  originally  had  a  smaller  initial  output, 
lut  fell  away  less  rapidly,  and  finally  settled  down  to  about  the  same 
figure  as  the  gassy  wells. 

There  are  at  present  on  this  property,  including  the  IMenges  wells 
noted  beloAv,  53  producing  wells,  and  35  abandoned  holes.  Of  the 
latter  25  were  dry  holes,  or  showed  only  traces  of  oil,  while  10  were 
pumped  for  periods  varying  from  one  year  to  twenty  years. 

The  average  depth  of  the  producing  wells  is  1324  feet,  with  a  maxi- 
mum of  2340  feet  and  a  minimum  of  1210  feet.  Of  these  wells,  14  are 
less  than  1000  feet  in  depth,  and  26  more  than  1500  feet  deep. 

The  average  age  of  all  the  producing  wells  on  the  property  is  approxi- 
mately fifteen  and  one  half  years.  The  present  output  (year  1911)  is 
reported  at  33,000  barrels,  or  an  average  of  1.7  barrel  per  well  per  day. 
The  quality  of  the  oil  is  indicated  by  the  analyses  at  the  end  of  the 
chapter. 

All  of  these  wells  pump  on  the  jack,  and  make  almost  no  sand.  Some 
of  the  wells  produce  considerable  water,  but  this  appears  to  be  entirely 
upper  water,  and  is  mainly  confined  to  the  older  wells,  where  the  light 
casings  used  have  suffered  with  the  lapse  of  time.  This  water  settles 
freely  from  the  oil,  and  there  is  no  water  trouble,  as  this  term  is  usually 
understood. 

The  Puente  Oil  Company  also  operates  a  lease  in  the  light  oil  district 
of  the  Olinda  field. 

Menges  Oil  Company.  On  the  Grazide  tract,  now  under  lease  to  the 
Pico  Oil  Company,  and  lying  east  of  the  Puente  wells,  the  Menges  Oil 
Company  drilled  a  string  of  test  wells  across  the  anticline,  in  the  years 
1895  to  1901.  Grazide  No.  1,  far  to  the  southeast,  was  abandoned  at 
426  feet,  and  was  presumably  a  lost  hole.  Grazide  No.  3  is  the  farthest 
north  of  the  string  of  four  wells  across  the  anticline,  and  was  carried 
to  a  depth  of  1900  feet.  No.  2,  next  to  the  south,  to  1876  feet.  No.  4  to 
1950  feet,  and  No.  5,  the  farthest  south,  to  1244  feet.  All  these  wells 
were  abandoned  when  drilled,  and  were  then  considered  to  demonstrate 


286  n"i'ROLi:i'.\[  in  soi"1'iikrn  caiji'okxia. 

that  the  formation  was  ii()ii|)r()(lu('tiv(^  at  this  end,  as  thej'  found  only 
traces  of  oil. 

W.  B.  Scott  Oil  Co)npa)i!j.  The  well  of  this  company,  drilled  in  1910, 
is  something  less  than  one  half  mile  south  of  the  nearest  producers  of 
the  Puente  Oil  Company,  and  slightly  closer  to  the  wells  of  the  Orange 
Oil  Company.  This  hole  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  4275  feet  without 
encountering  the  slightest  indications  of  oil,  and  is  said  to  have  gone 
through  formation  notably  ditferent  from  that  in  the  Puente  wells,  and 
yet  not  altogether  similar  to  that  of  the  Orange  wells.  This  hole  may  be 
considered  to  prove  that  the  failure  of  the  more  southerly  wells  of  the 
Puente  was  not  due  to  any  purely  local  cause,  and  that  there  is  no 
possibility  of  closing  the  gap  between  the  two  groups  of  wells. 

Bueiia  Vista  Oil  Company.  A  company  by  this  name  is  said  to  have 
drilled  one  of  the  holes,  apparently  dry  and  shallow,  near  the  northeast 
corner  of  fractional  section  27,  2-10.  Nothing  is  known  as  to  the 
history  of  this  well. 

Morning  Star  Oil  Company  or  Momingside  Oil  Company.  Near  the 
Buena  Vista  well  above  referred  to  is  another  hole,  said  to  have  been 
drilled  by  a  company  with  some  such  name  as  above.  No  information 
obtainable. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — La  Hahra.  On  the  north  bank 
of  the  caiion,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  section  33,  2-10,  are  two  holes 
drilled  by  the  Union  Oil  Company  about  the  year  1890.  One  of  these 
holes  appears  to  have  found  some  showing  of  oil,  but  both  were  aban- 
doned and  apparently  pulled. 

QUALITY   OF   PUENTE   OIL. 

As  will  be  noted  from  the  analyses  following,  the  oils  of  Puente  have 
about  the  same  gravity  range  as  those  of  Whittier,  ten  degrees  Beaume. 
They  lie  higher  in  the  scale  than  the  Whittier  output,  but  otherwise 
resemble  it  strongly. 

These  oils  are  characterized  by  the  low  yield  of  light  products  for 
any  given  gravity,  no  engine  distillate  appearing  below  22°  Beaume, 
and  no  gasoline  below  25°.  On  the  other  hand,  the  sulfur  content  is 
lower  than  that  of  almost  any  other  oil  in  the  State,  and  all  the  products 
of  the  oil  come  from  the  crude  still  in  a  high  state  of  purity.  This 
gives  these  oils  considerably  greater  value  than  the  percentage  composi- 
tion shown  by  the  analyses  would  indicate. 

The  paraffin  in  these  oils,  which  is  almost  always  sufficient  in  quantity 
to  render  the  lubricating  stock  useless  without  filtration,  shows  much 
more  tendency  to  crystallize  than  is  usually  the  case  with  California  oils. 


4415.* 

Puente  Oil   Company.      Rowland   No.   15. 

Gravity 21. .5^   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil.  of  a  brownish-black  color,  and  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  iL'.j  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  fii-st  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
steam  of  gas.     Distilliation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 20.3  per  cent  41.3°  Beaume 

Second  cut 21.1  per  cent  31,4° 

Third  cut 51.2  per  cent  20.1° 

Fixed  carbon 7.4  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reductiou  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 01°  Beaume  None 

Engine   distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  19.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  20.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.3°  16.2  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

R'educed  stock Solid  26.3  per  cent  \  20.1° — 42.59c 

Asphalt    "D"  18.5  per  cent,  or  64.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  heavy  distillate  was  of  unusually  dark  color,  and  contained  so 
much  paraffin  that  it  solidified  as  it  fell  from  the  condenser.     The 
1  educed  stock  Avas  a  stiff  jelly. 

4414.* 

Puente   Oil    Company.     Rowland    No.   58. 
Gravity 22.2°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil  of  n  brownish-black  color  and  a  sweet,  gassy  odor. 
DistUUition. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  dLstillcd  from  copper,   first  two  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 14.1  per  cent  42.3°  Beaume 

Second  cut 25.4  per  cent  37.0° 

Third  cut .52.9  per  cent  22.7° 

Fixed  carbon 7.6  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  calculation  of  the  carbon  to  asphalt,  and  reduction  of  the  last  cut 
in  a  stream  of  gas,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 01°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate   52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  15.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  "                27.5  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate 29.5°  17.9  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 1.5.4°  20.6  per  cent  \  22.7°— 38.-5% 

Asphalt   "D"'  19.0  per  cent,  or  66.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
•Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


288  l'KlU()l,i;UM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFOENIA. 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  rather  dark,  and  treated  only 
fairly  well.  The  hea^y  distillate  save  a  reduced  stock  of  medium 
viscosity,  a  pale  color,  and  free  from  paraffin. 


Puente  Oil  Company.      Rowland    No.  54. 

Gravity 25.2°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  linipiil  oil  of  a  bi'ownish-blaclj  color,  with  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  lT.j  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  fir.st  three  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distilled  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut G.O  per  cent  52.3°  Beaume 

Second  cut 23.7  per  cent  42.1° 

Third  cut 11.5  per  cent  33.0° 

Fourth  cut 50.5  per  cent  24.5° 

Fixed   carbon   8.3  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
carbon  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline Gl°  Beaume  None 

Engine   distillate 52°  6.5  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  23.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  11.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.6"  22.2  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock   14.7°  15.5  per  cent  \  24.5° — 37.7% 

Asphalt   "D"  20.8  per  cent,  or  73.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  liiht  products  from  this  oil  ran  ])ale  from  the  still,  and  treated 
out  with  the  test  acid  to  water-white  and  very  sweet  oils.  The  lubri- 
cating distillate  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  pale  and  rich  green  color,  but 
almost  solid  with  paraffin. 

4418.* 

Puente  Oil   Company.      Rowland   No.   71. 

Gravity 20.3°  Beaume 

This  i.s  a  limpid  oil,  of  a  black  color  with  greenish  tinge,  and  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cat 9.8  per  cent  51.8°  Baunie 

Second  cut IG.l  per  cent  42.1° 

Third  cut 17.2  per  cent  32.8° 

Fourth  cut 50.7  per  cent  23.4° 

Fixed  carbon G.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

*Analysis  hv  J.  P.  P. 


PUENTE   WELLS.  289 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
carbon  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine   distillate   52°  9..j  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  16.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  17.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate    32.7°  15.8  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.1°  25.7  per  cent  |23.4° — 41.5% 

Asphalt    "D"  15.5  per  cent,  or  54.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  ran  very  pale  and  sweet,  and  treated  out  readily 
to  water-Avhite  oils.  The  lubricating  stock  shows  some  crystallization, 
and  the  reduced  stock,  though  of  good  color,  is  quite  solid  with  paraffin. 

2422.* 

Puente  Oil   Company.     Rowland   No.  50. 

Gravity 26.8°  Beaume 

This  is  a  very  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
DistiUation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  Fahrenheit. 
Residue  reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected 
(.factor  X  0.8)  for  oxidation  during  evaporation.  The  original  figures  are 
as  follows : 

Below  212°  F 0.5  per  cent 

212   to   302° 10.0  per  cent  59.2°  Beaume 

302  to  518° 28.0  per  cent  43.6° 

Residue   above   518° 59.0  per  cent  15.5° 

Loss    2.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

After  eA'aporation  of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  the  above 
figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  6.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  6.0  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  26.5  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 35.5  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt    "D"  26.0  per  cent,  or  91.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 


Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 


2(3—63 


290 


TETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


3400.* 
Puente  Oil   Company.     Rowland  lease,  a   mixture. 

Gravity 26.8°  Beaumfi 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.     Residue 
from  this  distillation  reduced  to  "D"  asphalt  in  vacuum.     Lubricating  stock 
from  this  run  reduced  to  a  22.3°  stock  in  vacuum.     The  results  from  the 
three  distillations  are : 
Crude  oil. 

Below  302°  F 12.5  per  cent  58.8°  Beaumg 

302  to  518° 29.0  per  cent  42.4° 

Residue   above   518° 57.0  per  cent 

Loss    1.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
Residue  from  above. 

Lubricating  stock 33.0  per  cent  27.3°  Beaume 

Asphalt    24.0  per  cent  Grade  "D" 

57.0  per  cent 
Lubricating  stock  from  above. 

Fuel  distillate 15.0  per  cent  32.5°  Beaume 

Reduced  stock 18.0  per  cent  22.3° 

33.0  per  cent 

On  bringing  these  figures  together,  they  give  the  following   com- 
mercial analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumg  8.5  per  cent  (about) 

Engine  distillate 52°  5.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  28.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 32.4°  15.0  per  cent 

Reduced  stock 22.3°  18.0  per  cent 

Asphalt "D"  24.0  per  cent,  or  84.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

Loss 1.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


4417.t 
Puente  Oil   Company.     Rowland  lease,  a  mixture. 

Gravity 27.8°  Beaumg 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  brovv^nish-black  color,  and  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distilled  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 13.5  per  cent  51.9°  Beaumg 

Second  cut 10.4  per  cent  42.7° 

Third  cut 36.8  per  cent  33.1° 

Fourth  cut   32.1  per  cent  24.1° 

Fixed  carbon 7.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  Wayne  Colver. 
tAnalysis  by  J.   P.  P. 


PUENTE   WELLS.  291 

On  calculation  of  the  carbon  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  13.5  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  11.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  35.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants 24.1°  22.5  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  18.0  per  cent,  or  63.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  very  pale  and  sweet,  and  treated 
out  of  the  highest  grade  products.     The  lubricating  stock  was  sweet,  and 
of  medium  color  and  viscosity. 

7475.* 
Puente  Oil  Company.     Rowland  Nos.  3,  4,  5  and  6. 

Gravity 28.7°  (0.882  sp.  gr.) 

This  sample  was  collected  and  analyzed  in  the  year  1886,  when  these  wells 
were  less  than  one  year  old. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  500  c.c.  was  distilled  from  a  copper  retort,  using  neither  steam 
nor  gas.  Distillation  was  carried  to  300°  C,  but  the  properties  of  the 
residue  were  not  noted. 

Below  100°  C 10.6  per  cent  65.2°  Beaume 

100  to  125° 8.7  per  cent  57.4° 

125  to  150° 7.7  per  cent  51.6° 

150  to  200° 10.2  per  cent  44.3° 

200  to  250° 7.2  per  cent  35.7° 

250  to  300° 6.0  per  cent  28.9° 

Residue    49.6  per  cent  Not  recorded. 

100.0  per  cent 
This  is  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  20  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  7  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  14  per  cent 

Stove  oil  • 33°  4  per  cent  (about) 

Residue  below  stove  oil 55  per  cent 

100  per  cent 


I' Analysis  by  W.  D.  Johnston. 


292  TETROLEUM    IX    SOUTIIERX    CALIFORNIA. 

2426.* 
Puente  Oil   Company.      Rowland   No.   61. 

Gravity  29.1°  Beaume 

Viscosity  at  70°  F 4.22  Redwood 

Flash  point 60°   F.    (open  test) 

Fire  point 9S°  F.   (open  test) 

This  is  a  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillatio)!. 

Sample  of  100  c.c.  distilled  from  gla.s.s  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Re.sidue 
reduc(>d  to  asi)lialt  liy  open  evaporation,  and  weight  corrected  (factor  X  O.S) 
for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are  as  follows  : 

Below  212"  F 3.0  per  cent 

212  to  302° IS.O  per  cent  58.2°   Beaume 

302  to  518° 24.0  per  cent  41.4° 

Residue  above  518° 55.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

After  evaporation  of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  the  above 

figures    are    approximately    equivalent  to    the    following    commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  20.0  per  cent  (about) 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene   42°  22.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 35.9  per  cent  < not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  22.1  per  cent,  or  77.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 


100.0  per  cent 


7434. 


Puente  Oil   Company.     Rowlan'd   No.  66. 

Gravity 29.5°  Beaumg 

Viscosity  at  60°   F 2.35  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°   F 1.23  Redwood 

Sulfur 0.36  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 19,258  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°  F S.O  per  cent  02.7°  Baume 

212  to  302° 15.4  per  cent  51.4° 

302  to  392° 9.0  per  cent  41.7° 

392  to  482° 10.1  per  cent  36.4° 

482  to  572° 15.0  per  cent  31.9° 

572°  to  grade — a 23.1  per  cent  28.0° 

572°  to  grade — b 5.7  per  cent  28.4° 

Asphalt    13.1  per  cent  Grade '"D"  (about) 

Loss    0.6  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 
tAnalysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


PUEXTE   WELLS.  293 

These   figures   are   closely   equivalent  to  the    following   commercial 

analysis:  v     f      f| 

Gasoline 01°  Beaume  11.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  8.0  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  14.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  24.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 28.1°  29.3  per  cent 

Asphalt   "D"  13.1  per  cent 

Loss O.G  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


5416.* 
Puente  Oil  Company.     Rowland  No.  34. 

Gravity 32.5°  Beaume 

This  is  a  very  limpid  oil  of  a  brownish-black  color,  with  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 15.2  per  cent  G0.S°  Beaume 

Second  cut 12.4  per  cent  52.0° 

Third  cut 13.5  per  cent  42.0° 

Fourth  cut 17.0  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 36.9  per  cent  22.6° 

Fixed  carbon 5.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  carbon  to  asphalt,  these  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  15.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  12.5  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  13.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  17.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.1°  15.3  per  cent  )  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 13.0°  14.2  percent  \  22.6°— 29.5% 

Asphalt   "D"  12.5  per  cent,  or  43.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  ran  white  and  sweet,  and  are  of 
the  best  quality.  The  lubricating  stock  was  of  good  color,  and  gave  a 
reduced  stock  of  medium  to  low  viscosity,  showing  only  a  trace  of 
crvstallization. 


Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


294  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

FULLERTON  FIELD. 

The  title  Fullerton  is  ordinarily  applied  to  the  entire  group  of  wells 
lying  along  the  lower  reaches  of  Brea  Caiion,  and  on  the  hills  to  the  east, 
in  the  northern  portions  of  townships  3  S.  10  W.  and  3  S.  9  W.  The 
Pnente  wells  are  by  general  consent  omitted  from  this  group. 

The  western  portion  of  this  district,  from  the  west  line  of  section 
2,  3-10  to  the  east  line  of  the  Union  Oil  Company's  Sansinena  property, 
sections  6  and  7,  3-9,  is  often  considered  separately  under  the  name 
Brea  Caiion,  while  the  wells  east  of  this  limit  and  extending  into  section 
10,  3-9,  are  known  as  the  Olinda  wells.  This  division  originated  at  a 
time  when  the  older  wells,  those  near  the  mouth  of  the  Brea  Caiion  and 
at  Olinda  station,  were  separated  by  a  wide  stretch  of  undrilled  terri- 
tory, and  has  since  been  showTi  to  be  quite  arbitrary,  later  developments 
having  covered  the  intervening  ground  without  discovering  any  mater- 
ial variation  in  underground  conditions.  It  is  here  retained  as  a  matter 
of  convenience,  and  it  will  be  understood  that,  as  here  used,  the  name 
Fullerton  covers  the  entire  field;  Brea  Canon  the  wells  on  and  to  the 
west  of  the  Sansinena  and  Stearns  tracts,  and  Olinda  the  wells  east  of 
this  boundary. 

Topography.  The  Fullerton  field  lies  on  the  foothills  of  the  Puente 
range.  To  the  northwest  of  the  field,  where  the  Puente  wells  are 
located,  the  trend  of  the  hills  is  east  and  west,  and  the  hilly  strip  is 
narrow,  not  more  than  two  miles  in  a  north  and  south  direction  inter- 
vening between  Chino  and  La  Habra  valleys.  But  to  the  northeast  and 
east  of  the  field  the  hills  are  rougher  and  cover  a  much  wider  territory, 
the  distance  from  the  mouth  of  Telegraph  Caiion  to  the  flat  land  near 
the  to-s\Ti  of  Chino  being  about  eight  miles.  The  hills  at  this  point  take 
a  southeasterly  course. 

Brea  Canon  penetrates  this  hill  range,  with  a  course  generally  from 
northeast  to  southwest,  but  near  the  east  line  of  township  3-10  it  turns 
to  the  west,  then  to  the  northwest  to  the  point  where  it  is  joined  by 
Canada  del  Rodeo,  then  west  again,  and  finally  turns  south  to  La  Habra 
Valley.  West  of  the  mouth  of  the  canon  is  an  abrupt  spur,  making 
off  from  the  main  range  in  a  southwesterly  direction — some  of  the  best 
wells  in  the  field  are  located  on  this  spur. 

East  and  south  of  Brea  Caiion  is  a  hill  some  four  hundred  feet  in 
height  and  about  two  miles  long,  its  northern  face  rising  abruptly  from 
the  caiion  bed,  while  the  southern  slopes  off  gently  to  the  valley.  The 
earlier  wells  at  this  end  of  the  field  were  on  the  northern  face  and  the 
apex  of  this  ridge,  but  drilling  has  now  been  carried  some  distance 
do^^Ti  the  southern  slope. 


FULLERTOK   FIELD.  295 

At  its  eastern  end  this  hill  merges  in  the  southwesterly  slope  of  the 
main  range.  On  sections  8  and  9  the  surface  slopes  to  the  southwest, 
directly  to  the  vaUey,  but  Soquel  and  Telegraph  canons  enter  near  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  9,  the  town  of  Olinda  being  situated  in  a 
little  pocket,  and  separated  from  the  valley  on  the  south  by  a  low  ridge. 
Drilling  has  been  carried  over  this  southwest  slope  as  far  back  as  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  8  and  the  east  line  of  section  9,  and  has  also 
been  continued  over  the  ridge,  at  its  western  and  lower  end.  The 
surface  of  the  field  as  a  whole  is  smooth  and  accessible,  though  the  hills 
immediately  back  of  the  developed  portion  are  quite  steep  and  rough. 

Underground  Structure.  The  geology-  of  this  coimtry  was  fully 
covered,  at  least  so  far  as  it  was  known  at  that  time,  in  Bulletin  309  of 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey  (Geo.  H.  Eldridge).  It  need  here 
be  described  in  only  the  most  general  manner. 

The  Brea  Caiion  sands  approach  the  surface  near  the  center  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  1,  dip  toward  the  southwest,  and  have 
been  proven  up  for  a  distance  of  one  and  one  quarter  miles  east  and 
west,  and  about  one  half  mile  north  and  south.  Several  sands  are 
found  at  various  depths,  these  lying  from  500  feet  to  2000  feet  below 
the  surface  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  1,  and  from  1700  feet 
to  2600  feet  at  the  western  end  of  the  strip.  These  sands  all  produce  a 
moderate  gravity  black  oil.  Below  these  layers  a  deeper  sand  has  been 
found  in  two  or  three  wells  (notably  in  Birch  No.  5)  at  depths  ranging 
from  3000  to  4000  feet.  This  sand  flows  large  quantities  of  a  very  light 
oil,  under  high  gas  pressure. 

The  limits  of  this  group  are  set  on  two  sides  only.  On  the  north,  a 
zone  of  faulting  follows  in  a  general  way  the  south  line  of  Rancho 
Puente,  the  formations  north  of  this  fault  being  of  a  quite  different 
character  from  the  producing  formations  to  the  south,  and  apparently 
entirely  barren  (see  W.  B.  Scott  Oil  Company).  At  the  eastern  end  of 
the  group  the  sands  become  but  slightly  productive  as  they  approach  the 
surface,  though  it  is  not  certain  that  some  extension  may  not  be  made 
to  the  east  or  the  northeast  (see  Edison  Oil  Company). 

Xo  limit  has  been  indicated  to  the  west,  but  if  the  present  rate  of 
deepening  persists  in  that  direction  no  great  extension  is  possible.  On 
the  south,  the  4200-foot  dry  hole  of  the  Syndicate,  on  the  north  line  of 
section  11,  sets  a  limit  one  half  mile  south  of  present  developments,  and 
it  is  certain  that  the  sands  are  within  reach  over  at  least  a  part  of  the 
intervening  distance. 

The  sands  underlying  the  ridge  south  of  Brea  Caiion,  on  sections  1, 
6  and  7,  dip  to  the  south  or  southwest,  and  are  faulted  away  in  the  bed 
of  Brea  Canon,  several  attempts  to  the  north  of  this  line  having  resulted 
in  failure.  Developments  are  still  going  south  and  southwest,  but  have 
already  reached  a  considerable  depth. 


296  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

East  of  the  southeast  corner  of  section  6  the  fault  line  takes  oft'  to  the 
north,  but  a  sharply  folded  or  faulted  anticline  continues  in  the  same 
direction  to  the  east,  across  the  northern  part  of  section  8.  Only  a  few 
wells  have  been  drilled  on  the  north  limb,  which  dips  steeply  and  has 
not  been  very  productive. 

The  south  limb  forms  practically  a  monocline,  dipping  generally 
south  a  little  west,  but  Avith  minor  flexures,  and  covering  almost  the  full 
depth  of  section  8.  Several  sands  are  found  at  different  depths,  ranging 
from  800  feet  to  1500  feet  on  the  east  line  of  the  section,  and  from  1300 
feet  to  3350  feet  on  the  southwest  quarter.  In  general,  the  lower  sands 
make  a  heavier  oil  than  the  upper,  and  along  the  south  line  of  develop- 
ments all  the  oil  is  heavy.  Considerable  water  is  produced  with  the  oil 
on  this  side  the  field. 

No  limit  has  been  set  at  the  southwest,  except  by  Graham-Loftus  No. 
27,  which  found  some  oil,  but  had  too  much  water  to  handle.  It  is 
highly  probable  that  some  at  least  of  the  intervening  space  will  later  be 
drilled.  Developments  are  still  going  to  the  south,  with  no  limit  set, 
but  at  the  southeast  corner  the  Olinda  Crude  thoroughly  tested  the 
ground,  and  found  it  nonproductive. 

The  long  and  narrow  string  of  wells  extending  across  section  9  is  in  a 
different  and  older  formation.  These  wells  were  drilled  in  highly  dis- 
turbed rocks,  practically  in  a  fault  zone,  and  produce  a  lighter  oil  than 
the  sands  farther  west,  from  layers  of  firm  sand  or  sandstone. 

"With  this  one  exception,  the  oils  of  Fullerton  are  found  in  beds  of 
sand,  which  are  generally  rather  coherent.     For  this  reason  very  little 
sand  is  produced  with  the  oil,  and  this  mainly  along  the  southern 
margin  of  the  field. 
Brea  Canon  Wells. 

One  hundred  and  five  wells  have  been  drilled  in  the  Brea  Caiion 
division  of  the  field,  of  which  seventy-four  are  producing,  eleven  were 
drilling  in  January,  1912,  and  twenty  had  been  abandoned.  The 
records  of  these  developments,  so  far  as  obtainable,  are  as  follows : 

Cornerstone  Oil  Company.  A  company  under  this  name  is  said  to 
be  drilling  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  4,  3-10. 

Orange  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  three  wells  on  an  irregu- 
larly shaped  tract  in  the  north  half  of  section  2,  3-10.  "Well  No.  1,  the 
farthest  to  the  west,  was  drilled  in  190.8,  and  is  a  fair  pumping  well  at 
2685  feet.  Well  No.  2,  some  distance  to  the  east  along  the  south  prop- 
erty line,  was  drilled  in  1909,  and  is  2900  feet  deep.  This  was  for  a 
long  time  a  flowing  well,  and  an  excellent  producer,  being  rated  at  300 
barrels  daily.  Well  No.  3  was  started  in  1910,  and  at  last  reports  was 
drilling  at  3240  feet. 

Fico  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  two  wells  on  an  irregular 
tract  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  2,  3-10.     In  No.  1  the  casing 


Fl'LLERTON    FIELD.  297 

collapsed  at  1750  feet,  and  the  hole  was  abandoned.  Well  Xo.  2  was 
drilled  in  1910,  and  was  a  heavy  producer  at  2825  feet,  flowing  upwards 
of  600  barrels  per  day  of  an  oil  of  27.5°  Beaume. 

Croivn  of  the  Valley  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company,  on  the 
property  now  owned  by  the  Pico  Oil  Company,  was  drilled  in  1901,  and 
abandoned  as  a  dry  hole.     It  is  said  to  be  about  1800  feet  deep. 

Edison  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  located  at  the  eastern  extremity 
of  the  Pico  property,  just  south  of  the  line  of  Rancho  Rincon  de  la  Brea. 
It  was  drilled  in  1900,  and  carried  to  a  depth  of  860  feet.  At  this  depth 
it  flowed  some  sixty  barrels  of  oil,  but  the  light  casing  collapsed, 
pinched  the  tubing  and  let  upper  water  into  the  sands,  upon  which  the 
hole  was  abandoned. 

Fullerton  Oil  Company.  The  Brea  Caiion  lease  of  the  Fullerton  Oil 
Company  is  an  irregular  tract  in  the  north  half  of  section  2.  3-10.  On 
this  there  are  nine  wells,  all  but  one  of  which  are  producers. 

Well  No.  1,  drilled  in  1907,  is  a  producer  at  about  2100  feet.  Xos.  2 
arid  3,  drilled  in  1908,  are  producers  at  2500  feet  and  1700  feet  respect- 
ively. Well  No.  4  is  still  drilling,  now  do^^n  some  800  feet,  having  had 
much  trouble  with  lost  tools. 

Well  No.  5  is  a  producer  at  about  3400  feet,  and  No.  6  at  about  3300 
feet.  No.  7  produces  from  about  2675  feet,  and  No.  8  from  2670  feet. 
Well  No.  9  is  a  producer  at  some  3400  feet.  It  is  said  that  in  this  well 
no  oil  was  found  above  the  3300-foot  level. 

These  wells  all  pump  on  the  beam,  and  make  a  very  light  oil,  similar 
to  that  from  the  Orange  and  Pico  leases.  The  Fullerton  Oil  Company 
also  operates  properties  in  section  9,  3-9,  Olinda  field,  and  section  25, 
2-11,  Whittier  field. 

Birch  Oil  Company — Menges  Oil  Company.  The  old  lease  of  the 
^lenges  Oil  Company  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  2,  3-10.  is  now 
cm-ned  and  operated  by  the  Birch  Oil  Company.  On  this  tract  there  are 
five  producing  wells  and  three  drilling. 

Well  No.  1  of  the  ]\Ienges  was  the  first  well  completed  west  of  Brea 
Caiion.  It  was  drilled  in  1900,  and  is  a  producer  at  1630  feet.  Well 
No.  2  was  drilled  in  1904.  and  is  also  on  the  beam  at  2430  feet. 

Well  No.  3  was  drilled  in  1907,  and  produces  from  the  2550-foot  level. 
Well  No.  4  was  drilled  in  the  following  year,  and  is  almost  exactly  the 
same  depth,  2440  feet.  These  wells  all  draw  from  an  upper  sand,  and 
produce  a  moderately  light  oil,  somewhat  like  that  of  the  Brea  Canon 
Oil  Company's  lighter  wells. 

Well  No.  5  was  finished  in  1911,  and  was  a  large  flowing  well  at  3940 
feet.  This  well  has  been  a  remarkably  steady  producer,  and  is  still 
doing  about  2400  barrels  per  day.  The  gravity  of  the  oil  is  higher, 
27.9°  Beaume,  and  the  oil  is  accompanied  by  a  large  amount  of  gas. 
Wells  No.  6,  7  and  8  are  now  drilling  (June,  1912). 


298  PETROLEUM    IN   SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

The  Pacific  Gasoline  Company  operates  a  compressor  plant  on  this 
lease  for  the  manufacture  of  gasoline  from  the  excess  gas,  of  which  there 
is  a  large  quantity.  This  plant  is  said  to  have  been  more  than  usually 
successful. 

Brea  Canon  Oil  Company.  This  company  was  the  pioneer  in  the 
Brea  Canon  field,  having  commenced  operations  in  the  year  1900.  The 
property  of  this  company  is  an  irregular  tract  in  the  east  half  of  section 
2,  3-10  and  the  west  half  of  section  1,  3-10.  On  this  property  there  are 
twenty-six  wells,  of  which  twenty-two  are  producing,  three  are  aban- 
doned, and  one  is  drilling  (March,  1912). 

Well  No.  1  is  a  producer  at  1011  feet,  and  in  spite  of  its  age  is  said 
to  be  still  doing  about  seven  barrels  per  day.  Well  No.  2  was  a 
spoiled  hole  (lost  tools)  at  1350  feet.  Well  No.  3,  which  is  only  500 
feet  deep,  was  pumped  for  ten  years,  but  lately  abandoned  as  exhausted. 
This  is  the  farthest  east  of  any  well  on  the  lease,  and  very  close  to  the 
upper  edge  of  the  sands. 

Only  scattering  information  is  available  as  to  the  wells  up  to  No.  15. 
These  wells  are  all  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  property,  and  are  all 
producers.  Wells  No.  11  and  No.  12  are  flowing  Avells,  the  balance  are 
on  the  pump.  The  output  for  the  ten  wells  from  No.  4  to  No.  13  is  said 
to  average  18  barrels  per  well  per  day.  Well  No.  4  is  1650  feet  deep, 
No.  5  is  1200  feet.  No.  6  is  1500  feet.  No.  7  is  1470  feet.  No.  11  is  1250 
feet,  No.  12  is  1518  feet,  and  No.  13  is  2655  feet  deep.  No.  14  is  said 
to  be  a  better  producer,  averaging  30  barrels  per  day. 

Well  No.  15  is  1486  feet  deep.  No.  17  is  2200  feet,  and  No.  18  is  1100 
feet  deep.  The  output  of  these  four  wells  is  said  to  average  12  barrels 
per  well  per  day.  No.  19  is  a  producer  at  2000  feet  and  is  said  to  be 
good  for  about  25  barrels  daily,  while  Nos.  20  and  21  are  good  for  about 
the  same  amount. 

Well  No.  22  was  carried  to  3002  feet,  and  made  60  barrels  daily. 
The  output  of  this  well  is  about  the  same  as  that  of  No.  24,  which  is 
only  2200  feet  deep.  Well  No.  23  was  a  spoiled  hole  (lost  tools). 
No.  25,  drilled  in  1910,  was  2000  feet  deep,  and  No.  26  was  still  drilling 
at  last  reports. 

The  oil  from  these  wells  runs  from  18°  to  24°  Beaume,  and  averages 
about  21°.  The  heaviest  oil  and  smallest  production  is  at  the  upper 
edge  of  the  formation,  at  the  northeast  corner,  the  lighter  oil  and  larger 
productions  to  the  southwest.  Neither  the  depth  nor  the  output 
increases  very  rapidly  in  this  direction,  and  the  test  made  on  No.  22 
apparently  discouraged  further  search  for  a  deep  sand,  as  the  later  wells 
have  been  finished  at  a  slight  depth. 


riLLERTOX    FIELD.  299 

Olinda  Wells. 

Delaware  Union  Oil  Company — Graham  Loftus  Oil  Company.  The 
tract  in  the  south  half  of  section  2,  3-10,  formerly  owned  by  the 
Graham-Loftus  Oil  Company,  passed  to  the  Delaware  Union  Oil  Com- 
pany during  1911. 

On  this  tract  there  are  five  wells,  of  which  two  were  producing  and 
three  drilling  when  last  visited.  The  depth  of  the  producing  wells  is 
not  certainly  known,  but  is  said  to  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  2500  feet. 
They  produce  an  oil  of  about  18°  Beaume. 

Syndicate  Petroleum  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  on  the 
west  side  of  Brea  Canon,  on  the  north  line  of  section  11.  It  was  drilled 
in  1910  to  a  depth  of  some  4200  feet,  and  was  abandoned.  It  is  said  to 
have  been  barren. 

Union  Oil  Company — Sansinena  Tract— St ear7is  Tract.  The  San- 
sinena  lease  covers  a  large  area  in  sections  1  and  12,  3-10,  and  in  sec- 
tions 6,  7  and  8,  3-9  (see  field  map).  The  Stearns  lease  lies  just  to  the 
south,  in  sections  7,  3-9  and  12,  3-10.  On  these  tracts  there  are  fifty- 
three  wells,  of  which  thirty-six  are  producing,  ten  have  been  abandoned, 
and  seven  were  drilling  in  January,  1912. 

These  wells  lie  in  two  groups,  the  western,  next  to  the  Brea  Canon 
property,  and  including  Nos.  1,  2,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  18,  19,  20,  22  and  25, 
producing  a  light  oil  from  a  slight  depth,  while  the  balance  of  the 
wells,  along  the  creek  and  on  the  hills  to  the  south,  make  a  much  heavier 
oil.  The  output  from  the  wells  immediately  in  the  creek  bed,  which  are 
in  the  Brea  Canon  fault  or  just  to  the  south  of  this  line  of  disturbance, 
is  somewhat  more  viscous  than  that  from  the  deeper  weUs  just  to  the 
south,  though  a  tendency  toward  increase  in  weight  and  viscosity  is 
noted  in  passing  from  these  latter  wells  to  those  farthest  south  on  the 


The  first  two  wells  were  respectively  1000  feet  and  1300  feet  deep, 
and  were  only  small  producers  when  new.  No  information  can  be  had 
as  to  the  later  wells  in  this  group,  but  it  is  probable  that  they  are  of 
about  the  depth  of  the  Brea  Canon  wells  just  west,  and  they  appear  to 
be  small  producers.     All  these  wells  are  pumping  except  No.  11. 

The  earlier  weUs  in  the  eastern  group  were  driUed  in  the  creek  bed, 
where  there  is  a  large  brea  deposit  on  the  south  bank,  and  some  indi- 
cation of  faulting.  These  weUs  are  shallow,  few  over  1500  feet,  and  the 
oil  is  very  heavy  on  this  side,  about  15°  Beaume.  The  production  of 
these  weUs  has  fallen  to  a  very  low  figure,  and  several  have  been  puUed 
out.  Well  No.  30a,  situated  north  of  the  creek  bed  road,  was  a  fairly 
deep  hole,  and  is  said  to  have  been  entirely  dry. 

Farther  south  the  wells  are  much  deeper,  but  the  depths  are  very 
irregular.     Thus,  taking  approximately  straight  lines  east  and  west, 


300  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA, 

No.  41  is  3698  feet,  No.  44  is  3840  feet,  No.  42  is  2865  feet,  No.  37  is 
2980  feet,  and  Nos.  38  and  39  are  each  3080  feet.  In  the  next  line 
south,  No.  43  is  3300  feet,  No.  42  is  3200,  No.  36  is  2400,  and  No.  35  is 
1990  feet.  Four  wells  along  the  south  line  of  the  Sansinena  show: 
No.  46,  3249  feet,  No.  34,  3475  feet.  No.  33,  2700  feet  and  X...  82.  3600 
feet.  Lacking  any  further  information,  the  bearing  of  this  wide  vjiria- 
tion  in  the  depths  of  adjacent  wells  can  not  be  known. 

Nine  of  the  wells  in  this  group  are  abandoned,  Nos.  4,  5,  7.  16.  23,  24, 
30,  30a  and  31.  All  of  these  were  at  one  time  productive  except 
No.  30a.  The  gravity  of  the  oil  produced  increasas  slightly  toward  the 
south,  being  about  16.5°  Beaume  on  the  south  line  of  development. 

Puente  Crude  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  two  wells  in  the 
endeavor  to  find  production  north  of  Brea  Canon.  These  wells  were 
both  abandoned  when  drilled. 

Well  No.  1  is  located  on  Brady  land,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
6,  3-9.  It  was  drilled  in  the  year  1895,  and  abandoned  as  a  crooked 
hole  at  675  feet. 

Well  No.  2  was  farther  up  Cafiada  del  Rodeo,  in  the  southwest  quarter 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  31,  2-9.  This  well  was  drilled  in  the 
same  year,  and  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  2135  feet.  It  is  said  to  have 
found  traces  of  both  oil  and  gas,  but  in  a  formation  entirely  different 
from  that  found  south  of  Brea  Canon. 

Columhia  Oil  Producing  Company.  This  company  has  twenty-two 
M-ells  on  an  irregular  tract  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  8,  3-10, 
of  which  nineteen  were  producers,  and  three  drilling,  at  last  reports. 

These  wells  are  divided  into  two  groups,  the  numbers  from  1  to  12 
being  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  tract,  close  to  the  section  line,  while 
later  numbers  are  on  the  south  line,  and  along  the  southern  third  of  the 
east  line,  next  to  Industrial  and  Santa  Fe  wells. 

The  wells  in  the  northerly  group  are  all  shallow,  ranging  from  650 
feet  on  No.  6  to  1400  feet  on  No.  7.  Like  the  wells  farther  west,  the 
depth  gives  no  indication  of  the  level  at  which  the  sands  lie ;  for  instance, 
taking  an  approximately  straight  line  across  the  group :  No.  1  is  1050 
feet  deep.  No.  2  is  800  feet.  No.  5  is  850  feet,  No.  7  is  1400  feet.  No.  8  is 
700  feet,  and  No.  10  is  1050  feet.  No.  7,  however,  is  a  much  larger 
producer  than  the  other  wells  in  this  group,  and  has  without  doubt 
been  carried  into  a  deeper  sand  than  any  penetrated  in  the  other  wells. 

These  wells  were  at  one  time  excellent  producers,  said  to  be  good  for 
an  average  of  fifty  barrels  per  day,  though  they  are  believed  to  be  con- 
siderably depreciated  at  this  time.  The  gravity  of  the  oil  lies  close  to 
19.5°  Beaume. 

The  more  southerly  wells  are  very  much  deeper,  running  from  2400 
to  3200  feet,  with  an  average  of  about  2900  feet.     These  wells  are  also 


Pri.LERTON    FIELD.  301 

much  larger  producers,  some  of  them  going  as  high  as  five  hundred 
barrels  per  day  when  new.  The  gravity  of  the  oil  from  this  end  runs 
from  20-  to  20.5°  Beaume. 

ToM-ard  the  southern  end  of  this  tract  the  sands  show  considerable 
water,  which  is  pumped  with  the  oil,  and  separated  by  the  heating 
method  mentioned  below.  This  water  does  not  emulsify,  and  as  the  oil 
is  heated  by  means  of  gas  from  the  wells,  separation  of  Avater  is  a  matter 
of  small  expense. 

Industrial  Oil  Company — Fullerton  Consolidated  Oil  Company. 
The  Industrial  Oil  Company  operates  a  large  and  irregularly  shaped 
tract  in  the  south  half  of  section  8,  3-10,  south  of  Columbia  and  Petro- 
leum Development  property,  and  north  of  Olinda  Land  Company. 
This  property  was  developed  and  operated  by  the  Fullerton  Consoli- 
dated Oil  Company  up  to  1910,  in  which  year  it  was  sold  to  the  Indus- 
trial Oil  Company.  In  July,  1912,  this  property  was  reported  as  again 
sold  to  the  West  Coast  Oil  Company  (see  Salt  Lake  field),  but  the 
report  is  not  verified. 

Only  scattering  information  is  available  as  to  these  wells.  Of  the 
four  abandoned  wells,  No.  8  was  pulled  in  1902 — spoiled  hole;  No.  13 
was  converted  into  a  water-well,  and  Nos.  17  and  30  were  drowned  out. 

Well  No.  1  is  2300  feet  deep,  No.  4,  drilled  in  1900,  is  1970  feet,  and 
No.  5  is  2300  feet  deep.  This  latter  well  is  said  to  be  capable  of  pro- 
ducing 20  barrels  daily  of  20.5°  oil. 

Well  No.  9  was  drilled  in  1902  to  2200  feet,  and  No.  10,  1780  feet  deep, 
is  said  to  produce  10  barrels  per  day  of  15.9°  oil.  No.  12  is  2000  feet. 
No.  14  is  2700  feet.  No.  15  is  2800  feet,  and  No.  16  is  2735  feet,  the  three 
latter  reported  as  making  120,  80,  and  90  barrels  daily,  respectively. 

Well  No.  19  is  2860  feet  deep.  No.  20  is  2200  feet,  and  No.  21  is  2900 
feet.  No.  20  is  rated  at  300  barrels  per  day  of  18.5°  oil.  No.  23  is 
2890  feet.  No.  24  is  3120  feet,  and  No.  25  is  2270  feet. 

Well  No.  28,  3190  feet  deep,  is  credited  with  180  barrels  per  day  of 
20.9=  oil.  and  No.  29,  at  2870  feet,  with  200  barrels  per  day  of  14.7° 
oil.  These  production  figures  date  from  1910,  and  are  probably  over 
the  truth  at  the  present  time  (July,  1912).  They  are  noted  as  illus- 
trating the  wide  diversity  in  gravity  and  output  from  adjacent  wells  in 
this  part  of  the  field. 

The  heavier  oil  from  these  wells,  and  particularly  from  the  southern 
end  of  the  lease,  carries  a  great  deal  of  water,  which  does  not  emulsify, 
and  is  readily  removed  by  heating  and  settling.  The  heating  is  done  by 
a  simple  and  effective  apparatus,  sometimes  called  a  roaster,  and  con- 
structed in  a  general  way  as  follows: 

A  tunnel  of  red  brick  is  built,  some  five  feet  wide  and  high,  and  per- 
haps thirty  feet  long.     This  tunnel  is  open  at  the  ends,  has  a  stack  at  its 


302  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

middle  point,  and  is  covered  by  sections  of  old  well-tubing,  cut  to  a 
length  to  reach  across,  from  wall  to  wall,  laid  side  by  side  and  chinked 
with  clay.  These  sections  of  tubing  are  not  closed  at  the  ends,  as  circu- 
lation of  air  through  the  tube  is  depended  on  to  prevent  them  from 
sagging,  but  even  with  this  precaution,  the  tubes  directly  over  the  fire 
last  but  a  short  time.  The  advantages  of  this  method  are,  simple  and 
cheap  construction,  and  ready  access  to  the  inside  of  the  tunnel  at  any 
point. 

This  tunnel  is  filled  with  a  continuous  box-coil  of  three-inch  or  four- 
inch  pipe,  through  which  the  oil  to  be  heated  is  pumped,  the  outlet  end 
discharging  freely  into  a  tank  or  sump.  The  tunnel  is  fired  with  gas 
from  both  ends,  products  of  combustion  passing  to  the  stack  at  the 
center.  By  regulation  of  pump  speed  and  fires  the  oil  may  be  heated 
to  any  temperature  desired.  These  heavy  and  nonvolatile  oils  are 
usually  heated  sufficiently  to  cause  the  water  to  boil  at  the  outlet  of  the 
coil.  The  oil  thus  heated  settles  readily  and  clear,  and  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  actually  boil  off  any  appreciable  portion  of  the  water.  There 
is,  of  course,  some  loss  from  evaporation  of  the  heated  oil,  but  this  is 
small  with  an  oil  of  this  gravity,  and  there  being  no  expense  for  fuel, 
operating  costs  are  very  low.  With  an  oil  much  lighter  than  this,  a 
condensing  attachment  would  be  necessary  to  prevent  heavy  loss  of  the 
lighter  constituents  of  the  oil. 

Delaware  Union  Oil  Company — Graham-Loftus  Oil  Company.  The 
property  of  the  Graham-Loftus  Oil  Company,  the  north  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  8,  and  the  northwest  forty  acres  of  section 
9,  3-9,  was  sold  during  1911  to  the  Delaware  Union  Oil  Company.  This 
transfer  also  included  the  leases  in  the  northw^est  quarter  of  section  17, 
3-9,  also  in  Olinda,  and  in  section  8,  3-10,  in  the  Brea  Canon  field. 

The  well  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  17  was  a  deep  hole,  and 
was  drilled  in  the  hope  of  finding  an  extension  of  the  heavy  oil  sands  of 
section  8  in  this  direction.  It  did  develop  some  oil,  and  was  reported  as 
a  producer,  but  the  water  was  never  shut  off,  and  it  has  been  suspended 
for  some  time. 

On  the  south  line  of  Brea  Canon,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section 
6,  3-9,  is  a  well  drilled  by  Graham  &  Loftus  in  1898.  This  well  is  said 
to  have  been  about  1000  feet  deep,  and  was  a  dry  hole. 

On  the  old  Olinda  lease,  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  8  and  the 
northwest  forty  acres  of  section  9,  are  thirty-seven  wells,  of  which 
twenty-six  w^ere  producing,  five  abandoned,  and  six  drilling  when  last 
visited. 

The  data  as  to  these  wells  are  scanty,  only  a  few  of  the  depths  being 
known,  and  very  little  as  to  productiveness.  The  wells  along  the  south 
line  of  the  property  are  slightly  deeper  than  the  Santa  Fe  wells  across 


FULLERTON    FIELD.  303 

the  line,  the  formation  here  dipping  gently  to  the  north,  but  here  also 
there  are  several  sands,  the  deeper  being  more  productive.  These  wells 
give  an  oil  of  from  21°  to  22°  Beaume.  Farther  north  there  is  some 
sort  of  underground  disturbance,  north  of  which  there  is  no  production. 
Two  or  three  of  the  abandoned  wells  were  north  of  this  line,  and  were, 
dry  holes.  The  wells  farthest  north  which  produce  give  a  much  heavier 
oil,  from  16.5°  to  18°  Beaume.  These  wells  are  about  2800  feet  deep, 
on  the  average. 

Petroleum  Development  Company  (Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe 
B.  B.).  The  oil  properties  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  R.  R. 
Company  are  operated  under  the  name  of  the  Petroleum  Development 
Company.  Beside  the  Fullerton  property,  this  company  has  operating 
leases  at  Kern  River,  and  in  the  ^Midway  field. 

The  Olinda  property  of  this  company  includes  the  southeast  quarter  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  5;  a  portion  of  the  east  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter,  the  south  half  of  the  northeast  quarter,  and  the 
northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter,  of  section  8 ;  and  the  north- 
west quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  and  the  south  half  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  9,  3-10. 

On  this  property  there  were,  when  last  visited,  sixty-five  wells,  of 
which  eight  were  at  that  time  drilling,  three  abandoned,  and  fifty-four 
producing.  Since  that  time  several  of  these  drilling  wells  have  been 
finished,  and  others  started,  the  highest  number  at  the  beginning  of  the 
current  year  being  in  the  seventies. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Santa  Fe  Company,  very  full  informa- 
tion is  available  as  to  the  wells  on  this  property,  and  as  conditions  on 
various  portions  of  this  tract  are  an  indication  of  similar  conditions  over 
the  greater  part  of  the  Olinda  field,  these  notes  are  given  below  in 
some  detail. 

The  wells  on  the  Santa  Fe  property  may  be  divided  into  four  groups, 
differing  notably  in  depth,  yield  and  character  of  oil.  The  first  group 
consists  of  the  eleven  shallow  wells,  numbered  from  1  to  11,  including 
No.  5a,  but  excluding  No.  8.  These  wells  are  located  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  town  of  Olinda.  around  and  east  of  the  machine  shops. 

The  second  group  includes  all  the  wells  along  the  Graham-Loftus  line, 
and  also  Nos.  29  and  30,  south  of  this  line.  These  wells  produce  from 
the  same  formation  as  the  Graham-Loftus  wells. 

The  third  group  includes  all  the  wells  on  the  west  and  south  lines, 
adjoining  Columbia  and  Industrial  property.  These  wells  show  some- 
thing as  to  the  behavior  of  the  heavy-oil  formation  to  the  southwest. 

The  fourth  group  takes  in  the  wells  on  the  extreme  east  of  the  tract, 
adjoining  Puente  and  Fullerton  properties.  These  wells  are  in  the 
light-oil  formation. 


304  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTITERX    CALIFORNIA. 

The  wells  in  the  first  group  were  drilled  in  1907,  with  the  exception 
of  No.  11,  which  was  drilled  in  1909.  These  wells  are  therefore  .some 
fifteen  years  old,  but  all  are  still  producing  with  the  exception  of  No.  4, 
which  was  a  lost  hole  at  405  feet.  Near  No.  11,  the  most  westerly  of 
these  wells,  there  was  formerly  a  small  brea  deposit,  and  one  is  still 
visible  at  the  east  end  of  the  group,  between  Nos.  7  and  9.  These  early 
wells  were  drilled  on  the  strength  of  the  indication  afforded  by  these 
seepages,  and  were  carried  into  the  first  sand  only,  being  all  very 
shallow.  No.  11  is  the  shallowest  well  in  the  group.  460  feet,  and  No.  9 
the  deepest,  911  feet ;  the  balance  range  between  750  and  875  feet. 

These  wells  produce  an  oil  of  about  19°  Beaume.  They  are  all 
pumped  on  the  jack,  and  are  very  small  producers,  the  average  output 
for  the  eleven  being  about  three  barrels  per  well  per  day.  The  dip  of 
this  surface  formation  appears  to  be  to  the  east,  but  is  slight,  and  not 
very  regular. 

The  wells  of  the  second  group  were  drilled  at  different  times,  and  to 
different  depths,  some  penetrating  only  the  upper  sand,  some  a  second, 
while  the  later  wells  appear  to  have  had  a  third  and  more  productive 
stratum  at  greater  depth. 

Nos.  12,  15  and  19  are  first-sand  wells,  and  were  drilled  in  1899 
and  1900,  being  thus  about  twelve  years  old.  They  are  1095  feet,  1150 
feet  and  1266  feet  deep,  and  average  about  two  barrels  per  well  per  day. 

Nos.  13,  17  and  20  were  drilled  between  1898  and  1901,  and  are 
thus  of  about  the  same  age  as  the  foregoing.  They  appear  to  have  been 
carried  into  a  second  sand,  being  1550  feet,  1725  feet  and  1701  feet 
deep,  and  make  an  average  of  four  barrels  per  well  per  day. 

The  third-sand  wells  are  Nos.  14,  16,  29  and  30.  These  wells  were 
drilled  between  1897  and  1904,  and  were  all  between  2134  feet  and  2200 
feet  deep.  In  1909  No.  29  was  deepened  to  4310  feet,  but  without 
result  in  the  way  of  increased  production,  the  output  from  this  well 
being  about  12  barrels  daily,  while  the  other  three  are  averaging  twenty- 
one  barrels  per  well  per  day. 

Nos.  57,  56,  55,  53  and  54,  lying  to  the  west  of  the  above,  appear  to 
have  been  carried  into  the  same  sand,  though  they  are  somewhat  deeper. 
No.  57,  the  farthest  east,  is  2350  feet  deep,  and  from  here  the  depths 
increase  evenly  to  No.  54,  farthest  to  the  northwest,  which  is  2743  feet 
deep.  These  wells  were  drilled  in  1909  and  1910,  and  are  making  an 
average  of  about  ninety  barrels  per  well  per  day.  No.  53  being  a  much 
better  producer  than  the  others. 

The  gravity  of  the  oil  from  all  the  wells  east  of  No.  17  runs  quite  even 
at  about  20.5°  Beaume.  Farther  to  the  west  it  rises  slightly,  to  a  maxi- 
mum of  21.8°.  The  formation  appears  to  dip  to  the  north  along  the 
south  line  of  the  Graham-Loftus  tract,  and  to  the  northwest  at  the  west 
corner  of  this  property. 


FUliLERTON    FIELD.  305 

The  three  wells  at  the  extreme  northwest,  Nos.  37,  48  and  43,  were 
drilled  in  1905  and  1906.  These  wells  run  from  3356  feet  to  3755  feet 
in  depth,  and  average  about  fifty  barrels  daily  output. 

The  six  wells  immediately  south  of  these,  on  the  west  line,  Nos.  42, 
45,  46.  58.  49  and  50,  were  drilled  in  the  years  1905  to  1908.  These 
wells  range  from  2340  feet  to  2815  feet  deep,  the  depth  increasing 
toward  the  south.  They  make  an  oil  of  22°  gravity,  and  produce  from 
95  to  200  barrels  daily,  the  average  being  about  140  barrels  per  well  per 
day. 

The  two  wells  in  the  corner,  Nos.  51  and  52,  were  drilled  in  1908,  and 
are  considerably  deeper  than  the  wells  either  north  or  east,  and  from  550 
feet  to  650  feet  deeper  than  Columbia  No.  13,  and  Industrial  Nos.  16 
and  14,  the  adjacent  wells  to  the  south  and  west,  being  3359  feet  and 
3283  feet  deep.  Deeper  drilling  evidently  did  not  prove  successful,  as 
their  production  runs  about  150  barrels  each,  no  greater  than  that  of 
adjacent  shallower  wells. 

Along  the  south  line  there  is  a  notable  divergence  in  depth,  one  well 
being  very  shallow,  two  somewhat  deeper,  and  a  number  still  deeper. 
No.  25,  about  midway  of  the  south  line,  was  drilled  eleven  years  ago, 
and  is  still  good  for  ten  barrels  per  day  from  a  depth  of  675  feet. 

Nos.  41  and  23  were  drilled  in  1901  and  1903,  and  carried  to  1291  and 
1344  feet,  respectively.  These  wells  are  good  for  about  fifteen  barrels 
each  daily. 

The  balance  of  this  string,  Nos.  47,  31,  26,  24,  22,  27  and  34,  were 
drilled  between  1901  and  1905,  and  range  in  depth  from  1940  feet  to 
2610  feet.  The  deepest  wells  are  at  the  ends  of  the  string,  all  the  inter- 
mediate Avells  being  close  to  2000  feet  in  depth.  The  productions  of 
these  wells  vary  widely,  from  twenty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  barrels 
per  day.  and  average  about  sixty  barrels. 

The  oil  along  the  west  and  south  lines  is  very  uniform  in  quality, 
ranging  from  20.3°  to  22.0°  Beaume. 

The  wells  in  the  fourth  group,  at  the  extreme  east  of  the  property, 
are  all  in  the  same  light-oil  formation  from  which  the  wells  of  the  Ful- 
lerton  Oil  .Company  and  the  Puente  Oil  Company  (Olinda  lease)  pro- 
duce. These  wells  are  eleven  in  number,  nine  being  producers.  The 
two  abandoned  wells  are,  No.  8,  drilled  to  540  feet,  and  converted  into 
a  water-well,  and  No.  38,  far  to  the  northeast  of  the  other  wells,  a  dry 
hole  at  3087  feet. 

The  first  of  these  wells  was  drilled  in  1901,  and  the  last  in  1905.  The 
depths  vary  between  1165  feet  and  2875  feet,  but  there  is  not,  as  in  the 
territory  farther  west,  any  correspondence  between  the  depth  and  the 
productiveness,  nor  does  the  depth  to  which  drilling  has  been  carried 
give  any  indication  as  to  the  lay  of  the  sands,  the  wells  on  this,  as  on 
the  Puente  and  Fullerton  tracts,  varying  materially  from  location  to 
location.     The  productiveness  of  these  wells  varies  from  one  to  twenty 

21—63 


306  TETROLEUM   IN   SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

barrels  per  day  per  well,  with  an  average  for  the  entire  group  of  about 
ten  barrels  per  well.  This  oil  is  all  of  a  high  gravity,  ranging  from 
32.5°  to  34.5°  Beaume. 

Fullerton  Oil  Company.  Beside  the  Brea  Canon  lease,  this  company 
owns  and  operates  a  tract  in  the  light-oil  district  of  Olinda,  the  north- 
east quarter,  and  a  portion  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southwest 
quarter,  section  9,  3-9.  On  this  there  are  twelve  wells,  all  producers. 
These  wells  were  drilled  in  the  years  1900  to  1907.  Like  the  Santa 
Fe  light-oil  welLs,  these  holes  vary  widely  and  quite  irregularly  in  depth, 
the  shallowest  hole,  No.  4,  being  but  700  feet  deep,  while  Nos.  5  and  9 
are  the  deepest — 2500  feet.  There  is  no  apparent  correspondence 
between  depth  and  productiveness. 

Well  No.  1,  which  has  been  pumping  for  12  years,  is  said  to  be 
reduced  to  an  output  of  one  half  barrel  daily.  No.  9,  which  is  by  far 
the  best  producer  on  the  lease,  and  is  the  only  well  on  the  beam,  is  good 
for  eighteen  barrels  daily.  The  other  welLs  are  on  the  jack,  and  average 
in  the  neighborhood  of  ten  barrels  daily  per  well.  The  gravity  of  this 
oil  ranges  from  32°  to  34°  Beaume. 

Puente  Oil  Company  {Olinda  tract) — Columbia  Oil  Producing  Com- 
pany.  On  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  9,  3-9  the  Puente  Oil  Com- 
pany has  a  compact  group  of  forty-three  wells,  of  which  twenty-five  are 
producing,  fifteen  have  been  abandoned,  and  three  were  drilling  when 
last  visited.  The  first  sixteen  wells  on  this  tract  were  drilled  by  the 
Columbia  Oil  Producing  Company,  on  a  lease  from  the  Puente,  but  the 
property  reverted  to  the  Puente  in  the  year  1903. 

These  wells,  like  the  foregoing,  show  no  correspondence  between  depth 
and  output,  nor  does  the  depth  appear  to  give  any  indication  as  to 
underground  structure.  In  fact,  it  is  quite  probable  that  all  these  wells 
are  drilling  into  broken  formation,  as  the  logs  of  adjacent  wells  vary 
entirely  in  many  cases.  The  strip  at  this  end  is  narrower  than  at  the 
northwest,  and  appears  to  have  been  marked  by  a  succession  of  failures, 
except  at  the  east,  where  there  is  a  possibility  of  extension. 

The  first  four  wells  were  drilled  in  1898,  and  are  abandoned,  but  the 
reason  for  abandonment  is  not  known.  Five  were  pumped  for  from 
six  to  nine  years,  and  abandoned  as  exhausted,  these  being  Nos.  8,  10, 
11,  13,  and  14.  Nos.  20,  30,  31,  and  35  were  drilled  to  the  depth  of 
adjacent  holes,  but  found  no  oil  and  were  abandoned  as  dry  holes. 
No.  35,  which  was  a  test  well,  far  to  the  southwest  of  the  other  wells, 
was  carried  to  a  depth  of  4123  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  had  no  traces 
whatever  of  oil.  No.  39,  the  farthest  to  the  south,  was  abandoned  at 
802  feet,  after  finding  a  little  oil,  but  no  commercial  quantity. 

The  depth  of  the  producing  wells  varies  widely,  from  a  minimum  of 
660  feet  to  a  maximum  of  3028  feet.     These  depths  follow  no  regular 


FULLERTOX    FIELD.  307 

order,  except  that  the  holes  at  the  south  end  are  somewhat  the  shallower. 

The  oil  from  these  wells  shows  a  wider  range  of  gravity  than  that 
from  the  Fullerton  Oil  or  Santa  Fe  light-oil  wells.  Well  No.  40,  which 
is  near  the  south  end  of  the  strip,  at  the  west  side,  gives  an  oil  of 
gravity  22.2°  Beaume.  No.  32  produces  an  oil  of  29.1°  Beaume.  The 
balance  of  the  samples  from  this  lease  ran  in  the  neighborhood  of  33° 
to  34°  Beaume. 

Continental  Oil  Company.  On  the  northwest  quarter,  northwest 
quarter,  section  10,  3-9,  on  property  owned  by  the  Continental  Oil 
Company,  is  an  old  hole  which  is  said  to  be  about  1500  feet  deep.  This 
hole  has  been  pulled,  and  now  stands  full  of  sulfur  water.  There  are 
no  signs  of  oil  around  the  location,  but  nothing  can  be  learned  as  to  the 
history  of  this  well. 

Soquel  Caiion  Oil  Company.  A  well  was  drilled  by  this  company  on 
the  southwest  quarter,  northwest  quarter,  section  10,  3-9,  in  the  year 
1900.  This  weU  was  reported  at  the  time  to  be  715  feet  deep,  but  is 
understood  in  the  field  to  be  about  1250  feet.  It  was  abandoned 
because  of  lost  tools,  and  made  no  discovery. 

Roh  Roy  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  drilled  in  the  year  1904.  in  the 
forks  of  Carbon  and  Soquel  canons,  in  the  southwest  quarter,  north- 
west quarter,  section  11,  3-9.  It  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  about  2000 
feet,  and  is  said  to  have  been  an  absolutely  dry  hole,  so  far  as  oil  is  con- 
cerned. 

Olinda  Land  Company — Olinda  Crude  Oil  Company.  The  Olinda 
Land  Company  owns  a  large  tract  in  sections  8^  9,  10.  15,  and  16,  3-9, 
and  on  this  two  series  of  wells  have  been  drilled,  the  first  by  the  Olinda 
Crude  Oil  Company,  the  second  by  the  present  owners  of  the  property. 

The  first  series  consisted  of  five,  or  possibly  more  wells,  about  which 
very  little  can  be  learned.  Of  the  two  holes  on  the  west  line  of  sec- 
tion 10,  south  of  the  Soquel  Canon  wells,  the  more  northerly  was  carried 
to  1700  feet,  but  getting  into  mechanical  difficulties,  was  abandoned  and 
pulled.  The  second  was  drilled  to  1462  feet,  and  suspended,  but  in 
January,  1912,  was  again  being  worked  on.  The  southern  well  had  a 
very  good  showing  of  oil,  and  it  is  said  that  the  abandoned  well  also  had 
enough  oil  in  sight  to  warrant  taking  it  deeper. 

Two  wells  were  also  drilled  south  of  the  Fullerton  Oil  Company's 
property,  and  one  west  of  the  railroad,  south  of  the  Santa  Fe  tract. 
One  of  these  weUs,  but  which  one  is  not  known,  was  carried  to  a  depth  of 
3552  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  had  some  oil  near  the  bottom,  but  the 
water  could  never  be  shut  off,  and  it  was  finally  abandoned.  The  other 
two  wells  were  of  moderate  depth  only,  and  developed  nothing.  These 
wells  were  all  drilled  bet\veen  1900  and  1905. 

The  five  wells  of  the  Olinda  Land  Company  were  started  in  1909  and 


308  PETROLEUM    IN"    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

1910,  and  when  last  visited  but  two  of  these  had  been  finished,  Nos.  1 
and  3.  These  were  2460  feet  and  3570  feet  deep,  respectively,  and 
were  producing  a  heavy  oil  on  the  beam. 

Io%va  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  two  wells,  in  the  years 
1902  to  1906,  on  the  southeast  quarter,  southwest  quarter,  section  16,  3-9, 
over  a  mile  south  of  any  other  developments. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  with  a  rotary,  and  abandoned  at  some  600  feet 
because  of  mechanical  difficulties.  No.  2  was  carried  to  3170  feet,  and 
got  encouraging  showings  at  2600  and  at  the  bottom,  but  had  no  com- 
mercial production,  and  the  operators  were  unable  to  carry  the  hole 
deeper.     It  was  abandoned  and  pulled. 

QUALITIES   OF   FULLERTON   OILS. 

The  oils  of  Fullerton  cover  a  wider  range  of  gravity  than  those  of  any 
single  field  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  State,  unless  we  so  consider 
the  many  little  pools  of  the  Ventura-Newhall  group.  The  samples 
whose  analyses  are  given  on  following  pages  range  from  15.0°  to  34.5° 
Beaume,  a  variation  of  19.5°,  as  against  9.8°  for  Whittier;  6.9°  for  Los 
Angeles;  11.6°  for  Salt  Lake;  4.5°  for  Cat  Canon,  and  13.5°  for  Santa 
Maria. 

Five  clearly  separated  qualities  of  oil  may  distinguish  in  the  aggre- 
gate of  crude  from  this  group,  the  first  being  the  heavy  oils  of  the  south- 
western part  of  the  field,  from  15.0°  to  16.5°  Beaume.  These  oils 
closely  resemble  the  oils  of  the  City  field,  giving  no  naphthas  nor  kero- 
sene, and  containing  considerable  sulfur. 

A  second  quality  ranges  from  16.5°  to  19.0°,  and  is  found  in  all  parts 
of  the  field.  These  oils  yield,  as  a  rule,  considerable  kerosene  but  no 
naphthas,  though  in  Brea  Caiion  oils  of  this  gravity  show  some  engine 
distillate. 

A  third  quality  ranges  from  19.0°  to  22.0°,  and  resembles  average 
Whittier  oil  except  in  containing  much  more  sulfur.  These  crudes  are 
also  found  in  many  parts  of  the  fields — they  yield  some  engine  distil- 
late, but  little  or  no  gasoline,  and  are  of  almost  no  refining  value. 

The  lower-sand  oil  from  Brea  Caiion  runs  from  27°  to  28°  Beaume, 
and  gives  a  good  yield  of  gasoline.  It  is  much  less  sweet  than  the 
lighter  Puente  oil,  which  otherwise  it  much  resembles. 

The  lightest  oil  in  the  field  is  produced  by  the  wells  on  section  9. 
These  oils  give  an  unusually  high  yield  of  gasoline,  even  for  the  gravity, 
and  are  probably  not  excelled  in  refining  value  hj  any  oils  produced  in 
quantity  in  the  State. 

In  general,  the  oils  of  Fullerton  contain  more  sulfur  than  those  of 
Whittier  and  Puente,  but  this  percentage  varies  widely  from  well  to 
well,  and  not,  so  far  as  can  be  seen,  in  any  direct  relation  to  the  gravity 
of  the  crude. 


FULLERTON    FIELD.  309 


1433. 


Union    Oil    Company.      Sanslnena    No.    5. 

Gravity  15.0°  Beaumg 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 5.18  Redwood 

Flash  point 153°   F.    (Abel-Pensky  test) 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  the  use  of  steam  or  gas. 

Below  392°  F 5.2  per  cent  40.8°  Beaume 

392  to  482° 11.6  per  cent  31.9° 

482  to  572° 25.1  per  cent  27.0° 

572°  to  grade 28.5  per  cent  27.1° 

Asphalt    28.4  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss   1.2  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  2sone 

Kerosene 42°  4.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  12.8  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 27.0°  53.6  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  28.4  per  cent 

Loss 1.2  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 


2445.t 


Fullerton  Consolidated  Oil  Company  (Industrial).     Well  No.  10. 

Gravity 15.9°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  thick,  black  oil,  with  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  Fahrenheit 
Residue  reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  weight  of  asphalt  cor- 
rected (factor  X  0.8)  for  oxidation  during  evaporation.  The  original  figures 
are  as  follows : 

Below  302°  F 1.0  per  cent 

302  to  518° 14.0  per  cent  30.0°  Beaume 

tlesidue  above  518° 83.0  per  cent  13.1° 

Loss    2.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
After  evaporation  of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  the  above 
figures  are  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  BeaumS  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  5.0  per  cent  (about) 

«tove  oil 33°  10.0  per  cent  (about) 

Middlings  and  lubricants 51.4  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  83.6  per  cent,  or  117.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 


100.0  per  cent 


•^Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 
(•Analysis  by  Wayne  Colver. 


310  PETROLEUM   IN"    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

5415.» 

Union  Oil  Company.     Sansinena  No.  46. 

Gravity 16.4°  Beaumg 

This  is  a  rather  thick,  brownish-blaclv  oil,  with  a  sharp  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  fi-om  copper  in  a  current  of  gas.     Distillation  car- 
ried to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 40.8  per  cent  32.1°  Beaume 

Second  cut 43.1  per  cent  22.7° 

Fixed  carbon 16.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  .second  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  oil  shows  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  Nono 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

otove  oil 33°  36.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.0°  15.4  i>er  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 10.5°  18.3  per  cent  \  2^.7°— 23.7% 

Asphalt "D"  40.3  per  cent,  or  141.4  lbs.  per  bbL 

100.0  per  cent 

This  oil  decomposed  very  badly  while  first  cut  was  running,  and  the 
proportion  of  stove  oil  is  too  large.  The  percentage  of  asphalt  may  have 
also  been  increased  by  this  action. 

The  reduced  stock  from  the  heavy  distillate  was  very  thick,  and  of  a 
rich  color,  but  free  from  paraffin. 

5417.* 
Graham-Loftus  Oil   Company   (Delaware-Union).     Well   No.  34. 

Gravity  17.7°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  moderately  thick,  brownish-black  oil,  of  a  strong  but  not  sulfurous  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  1.50  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a  cur- 
rent of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 1 15.2  per  cent  40.4°  Beaume 

Second  cut 14.9  per  cent  30.2° 

Third  cut 60.9  per  cent  21.9° 

Fixed  carbon 9.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  11.0  per  cent  (about) 

Stove  oil 33°  15.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.5°  20.6  per  cent  }  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  sto€k   14.1°  30.9  per  cent  ^21.9°— 51.5% 

Asphalt   "D"  22.5  psr  cent,  or  79.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

1 00.0  per  cent 

•Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


FULLERTOX   FIELD.  311 

The  kerosene  runs  rather  dark,  but  treats  out  well  and  is  of  satisfac- 
tory quality.  The  reduced  stock  is  sweet  and  of  good  color,  with  mod- 
erate viscosity,  and  no  paraflfin. 


Birch  Oil  Company.     Well  No.  3. 

Gravity 18.6°   Beaum^ 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample   of   300   c.c.    distilled   from   copper,   first   three   cuts   dry,   last   cut   in 
current  of  gas.     Distilled  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.0  per  cent  51.7^  Beaume 

Second  cut 15.3  per  cent  40.2° 

Third  cut 11.5  per  cent  30.8° 

Fourth  cut 59.2  per  cent  21.6° 

Fixed  carbon 9.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline G3'   Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  5.0  per  cent 

Kei-osene   42°  14.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  11.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.0°  23.5  per  cent  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.4°  23.5  per  cent  /21.6° — i7.0% 

Asphalt   "D"  22.5  per  cent,  or  79.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  yellow  from  the  still,  and  only 
fairly  sweet,  but  treated  out  with  the  test  acid  to  water-white  oils  of  the 
best  odor.  The  reduced  stock,  of  rather  high  viscosity,  had  a  some- 
what dark  color  with  good  green  outertone.  A  little  paraffin  appeared 
in  this  stock. 

T44S.t 
Petroleum    Development  Company.     Well   No.  26. 

Gravity 19.0°   Beaume 

Sulfur 1.09  per  cent  by  weight 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  the  use  of  steam  or 
gas. 

Below  392°  F 11.2  per  cent  42.6°  Beaumg 

392  to  482° 10.5  per  cent  33.7° 

482  to  572° 15.5  per  cent  28.2° 

572°  to  grade— a 2S.3  per  cent  28.1° 

572°  to  grade — -b 9.9  per  cent  25.5° 

.\sphalt 23.1  per  cent  Grade  "'D"  (about) 

Water   and   loss 1.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
tAnalysis  by  H.  X.  Cooper. 


312  PETKOLEUM   IN   SOUTHEKN   CALIFOENIA. 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  12.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  9.7  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 27.4°  5o.O  per  cent 

Asphalt   "D"  23.1  per  cent 

Loss 0.2  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
7447.* 
Columbia  Oil  Producing  Company.     A  well. 
Gravity 19-3°   Beaum6 

Viscosity  at  60°  F 39.96  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 2.16  Redwood 

The  number  of  the  well  from  which  this  sample  was  taken  is  not  stated. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°  F 1.9  per  cent  69.9°  Beaume 

212   to   302° 6.2  per  cent  53.5° 

302  to  392° 9.2  per  cent  40.6° 

392  to  482° 8.1  per  cent  32.4° 

482  to  572° 17.3  per  cent  27.7° 

572°  to  grade — a 27.4  per  cent  25.3° 

572°  to  grade — b 3.8  per  cent  26.0° 

Asphalt    25.8  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    - 0.3  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  4.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  2.0  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  10.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  8.5  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 25.4°  48.4  per  cent 

Asphalt • "D"  25.8  per  cent 

Loss 0.3  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
5420.t 
Columbia  Oil  Producing  Company.     Well  No.  13. 

Gravity 20.1°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  a  brownish-black  color,  and  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  160  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry.   la.st  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 6.1  per  cent  52.3°  Beaume 

Second  cut   6.1  per  cent  42.3° 

Third  cut 16.2  per  cent  32.7° 

Fourth  cut 63.9  per  cent  20.8° 

Fixed  carbon 7.7  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 
tAnalysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


FULLERTON    FIELD.  313 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas.  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  6.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  6.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  16.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.9°  19.8  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock 15.1°  32.4  per  cent  ^20.S°— 52.2% 

Asphalt   "D"  19.3  per  cent,  or  67.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  treated  out  well,  and  were  of  good 
quality.     The  last  cut  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  good  color  and  high 
viscosity,  but  showing  a  good  deal  of  paraffin. 

4422.* 

Petroleum   Development  Company.     Well   No.  23. 

Gravity 20.3°  Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  175  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distillation  carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 8.5  per  cent  49.4°  Beaume 

Second  cut 7.3  per  cent  39.5° 

Third  cut 10.8  per  cent  33.1° 

Fourth  cut 65.3  per  cent  22.3°  ' 

Fixed  carbon 8.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  inert  gas,  and  calculation 
of  the  carbon  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  6.02  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  10.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  11.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.0°  26.3  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock 13.8°  26.4  per  cent  s  22.3°— 52.7% 

Asphalt   "D"  20.3  per  cent,  or  71.3  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0.per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  only  fairly  pale,  but  treated  out 
to  white  and  sweet  oils.     The  lubricating  stock  was  of  fair  quality. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


314  PETROLEUM   IN   SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

2427.* 
Petroleum  Development  Company.     Well  No.  31. 

Gravity 20..3°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  a  brownish-black  color  and  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  100  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  of  asphalt  corrected 
(factor  X  0.8)  for  oxidation  during  evaporation.  The  original  figures  are 
as  follows : 

Below  302°  F Trace 

302   to   518°_-- 23.0  per  cent  41.2°  Beaume 

Residue  above  518° 75.0  per  cent  14.0° 

Loss    2.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
These  figures  are  equivalent,  after  reduction  of  the  residue  to  asphalt, 
to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene ■^2°  21.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil  and  lubricants .53.3per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  25.7  per  cent,  or  90.2  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
2466.t 
Fullerton   Consolidated  Oil  Company   (Industrial).     Weil  No.  6. 

Gravity 20.5°  Beaumfi 

This  is  a  rather  limpid,  dead-black  oil,  with  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  125  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.    Residue 
from  this  distillation  reduced  to  "D"  asphalt  in  vacuum.     Lubricating  stock 
from   this   run   reduced   to  20.9°   stock  in  vacuum.     The  results  from  the 
three  distillations  are : 
Crude  oil. 

Below  302°  F 3.6  per  cent  55.0°  Beaume 

302  to  518° 19.6  per  cent  39.3° 

Residue  above  518° 76.8  per  cent  14.0° 

100.0  per  cent 
Residue  from  above. 

Lubricating  stock 46.1  per  cent  24.0°  Beaumg 

Asphalt    30.7  per  cent  Grade  "E"     ■ 

76.8  per  cent 
Lubricating  stock  from  above. 

Fuel  distillate 12.4  per  cent  34.0°  Beaume 

Reduced  stock 33.7  per  cent  20.9° 

46.1  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 
tAnalysis  by  Wayne  Colver. 


PULLERTON    FIELD.  315 

On  bringing  these  figures  together,  they  give  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  5.5  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  12.0  per  cent  (about) 

Fuel   distillate   34.0°  18.1  per  cent 

Reduced  stock 20.9  per  cent  33.7  per  cent 

Asphalt    "E"  30.7  per  cent,  or  107.8  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
It  Avill  be  noted  that  the  asphalt  is  softer  than  the  usual  test  grade, 
the  percentage  being  therefore  too  large  for  direct  comparison  with 
other  runs. 

4429.* 
Brea  Canon  Oil  Company.     No.  21. 

Gravity 20.5°   Beaumg 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil.  of  a  brownish-black  color  and  rather  sharp  odoi-. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 9.9  per  cent  50.8°  Beaume 

Second  cut 7.5  per  cent  40.9° 

Third  cut 13.8  per  cent  33.2° 

Fourth   cut   58.2  per  cent  22.0° 

Fixed  carbon 10.6 grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
carbon  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  8.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  9.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  14.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.6°  15.5  per  cent  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.6°  26.5  per  cent  i,  22.0° — 42.0% 

Asphalt  "D"  26.5  per  cent,  or  93.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent. 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  came  over  pale  and  sweet,  and  took 
the  test  acid  well.     The  last  cut  was  of  good  color,  mild  odor  and  medium 
viscosity.     This  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  rich  color,   but  thick  with 
paraffin. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


316  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

5418.* 
Graham- Loftus  Oil  Company.     Well  No.  25. 

Gravity 21.2"   Beaumg 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  a  brownish-black  color  and  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  iu  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dryness. 

First  cut 12.8  per  cent  .~)1.G-   Beaumg 

Second  cut 6.9  per  cent  40.7° 

Third  cut 13.3  per  cent  33.0° 

Fourth  cut 61.8  per  cent  20.1° 

Fixed  carbon 5.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beatime  None 

Engine   distillate 52°  •       12.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  7.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  14.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   29.4°  16.7  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.5°  37.3  percent  (20.1°— .54. 0^*^ 

Asphalt "D"  13.0  per  cent,  or  45.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  come  from  the  still  with  good  color, 
and  take  the  test  acid  well.  The  last  cut  gives  a  reduced  stock  of  rich 
color,  and  high  viscosity,  but  with  too  much  paraffin  for  ordinary  use, 

4421.* 
Petroleum   Development  Company.     Well  No.  47. 

Gravity 21.8^   Beaum6 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  225  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 9.4  per  cent  .52.2°  Beaume 

Second  cut 10.3  per  cent  41.3° 

Third  cut 12.9  per  cent  33.1° 

Fourth  cut 57.4  per  cent  27.5° 

Fixed   carbon   10.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


FULLERTON   FIELD.  317 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
carbon  to  asphalt  in  the  usual  manner,  we  have  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  Nonp 

Engine  distillate 52^  9.5  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  10.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  13.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.7°  31.0  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.7°  11.5  per  cent  \  27.5° — 42.5% 

Asphalt   "D"  25.0  per  cent,  or  87.8  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  fairly  pale,  and  treated  out  to 
Avater-white  and  sweet  oils.  The  lubricating  end  of  the  crude  was  of 
fair  color,  a  little  burned,  and  of  low  viscosity.  The  reduced  stock  was 
dark  in  color,  of  high  viscosity,  and  showed  some  paraffin. 

4423.* 
Brea   Canon  Oil   Company.     Well  No.   1. 

Gravity 22.5°  Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  a  brownish-black  color  and  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 13.7  per  cent  52.1°  Beaume 

Second  cut S.l  per  cent  42.4° 

Third  cut , 13.7  per  cent  32.5° 

Fourth  cut 56.7  per  cent  21.3° 

Fixed   carbon   7.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  had : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  14.0  per  cent 

Kerosene   42°  9.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  12.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.6°  19.1  per  cent  }  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.5°  26.4  per  cent  ^21.3° — i5.5% 

Asphalt "D"  19.5  per  cent,  or  68.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  dark  in  color,  but  took  the  test 
acid  well,  and  came  out  water-white  and  sweet. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


318  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

4424.* 

Union  Oil   Company.     Sansinena   No.  2. 

Gravity 25.1°   Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil  of  brownish-black  color,  and  rather  strong-,  sharp 
odor,  not  sulfurous. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  175  c.e.  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry.  last  cut  in  a  current 
of  gas.    Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut S.7  per  cent  60.5°  Beaume 

Second  cut 8.3  per  cent  49.8° 

Third  cut 4.9  per  cent  41.4° 

Fourth  cut 17.2  per  cent  32.5° 

Fifth  cut 52.2  per  cent  20.5° 

Fixed  carbon 8.7  grams  per  100  c.e. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  8.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  7.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  7.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  17.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.0°  14.1  per  cent  )  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.6°  25.1  per  cent  \  20.5° — 39.2% 

Asphalt  "D"  21.8  per  cent,  or  76.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  pale,  and  treated  out  well  with 
the  test  acid.  The  heavy  stock  was  rather  pale,  sweet  and  of  medium 
viscosity.  The  reduced  stock  was  very  dark,  of  medium  viscosity  and 
free  from  paraffin. 

5419.* 
Pico  Oil  Company.     Well   No.  2. 

Gravity 27.5°  Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid,  greenish-black  oil,  with  a  strong,  fairly  sweet  and  very  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.e.  distilled  from  copper,   first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 11.7  per  cent  61.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 9.2  per  cent  50.3° 

Third  cut 16.0  per  cent  41.0° 

Fourth  cut 10.5  per  cent  30.7° 

Fifth  cut 46.9  per  cent  18.6° 

Fixed  carbon 5.7  grams  per  100  c.e. 


100.0  per  cent 
•Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


PULLERTON    FIELD.  319 

The  quantity  of  lubricating  stock  was  too  small  to  reduce.     On  calcu- 
lation of  the  coke  to  asphalt  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  11.7  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  G.O  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  19.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil . 33°  7.5  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 18.6°  41.6  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  14.2  per  cent,  or  49.8  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  ran  pale  from  the  still,  and  treated  out  readily  to 
white,  sweet  oils  of  the  best  grade.     The  lubricating  stock  is  of  good 
color  and  rather  high  viscosity,  and  free  from  paraffin. 


Birch  Oil  Company.     Well  No.  5. 

Gravity 27.9°   Beaume 

This  is  a  very  limpid,  brownish-green  oil,  translucent  in  thin  layers,  and  having  a 
mild  and  gassy,  but  not  very  sweet,  odor. 
'     Distillation. 

Sample  of  300  c.c.   distilled   from  copper,   first   four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 11.2  per  cent  60.3°  Beaume 

Second  cut 5.6  per  cent  51.4° 

Third  cut 16.3  per  cent  42.1° 

Fourth  cut 10.4  per  cent  34.0° 

Fifth  cut 51.1  per  cent  21.8° 

Fixed  carbon . 5.4  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  distillate  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation 
of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  10.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  0.3  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  10.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  10.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.0°  22.6  per  cent  }  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.0°  26.6  per  cent  \21.8° — 19.2'?^^ 

Asphalt "D"  13.5  per  cent,  or  47.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  first  runnings  from  this  oil  were  of  fair  color,  but  had  a  peculiar 
and  rather  sour  odor,  which  in  the  main,  though  not  entirely,  disap- 
peared in  the  test  treatment.  The  second  and  third  fractions,  however, 
though  rather  musty  as  they  came  from  the  still,  treated  out  to  water- 
white  oils  of  the  sweetest  odor.     The  stove  oil  also  took  treatment  well. 

The  lubricating  stock  was  of  good  color,  was  slightly  burned,  and  had 
a  high  viscosity,  which  was  due  to  paraffin.     The  reduced  stock  was  also 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


320  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

of  pale  color,  and  contained  enough  paraffin  to  give  it  a  pasty  con- 
sistency at  normal  temperatures,  making  it  valueless  for  lubricants. 

5421.* 

Fullerton   Oil    Company.      Well    No.   10. 

Gravity 32.2°  Beaumg 

This  is  a  very  limpid,  greenish-blacli  oil,  with  a  mild,  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  ISO  c.c.  distilled   from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut  iu  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 14.9  per  cent  60.8°  Beaume 

Second  cut 11.5  per  cent  51.9° 

Third  cut 22.5  per  cent  41.9° 

Fourth  cut 9.8  per  cent  32.7° 

Fifth  cut 37.4  per  cent  22.1° 

Fixed  carbon 3.9  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  14.9  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  11.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  22.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  9.8  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   29.9°  13.9  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.8°  17.6  per  cent  (22.1°— 31.5% 

Asphalt "D"  9.8  per  cent,  or  34.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  crude  run  very  pale  and  sweet,  and  take 
the  test  acid  readily.     The  reduced  stock  from  the  heavy  distillate  is  of 
good  color  and  high  viscosity,  and  shows  only  a  trace  of  paraffin.     This 
is  a  refining  oil  of  the  highest  grade. 

2465.t 

Puente  Oil   Company.     Columbia   lease. 

Gravity 32.4°  Beaum§ 

This  is  a  limpid,  greenish-black  oil,  with  a  mild,  gassy  odor.     The  number  of  the 
well  from  which  this  sample  was  taken  is  not  recorded. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  125  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.     Residue 
from  this  distillation  reduced  to  "D"  asphalt  in  vacuum.     Lubricating  stock 
from  this  run  reduced  to  a  21°  stock  in  vacuum.    The  i-esults  from  the  three 
distillations  are  : 
Crude  oil : 

Below  212°  F 7.0  per  cent  67.5°  Be.    } 

212  to  302° 15.5  per  cent  50.3"   "       \  ''^^•^°  Beaume 

302  to  518° 26.(J  per  cent  41.5° 

Residue  above  518° 50.9  per  cent  10.3° 

.  100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
tAnalysis  by  W^ayne  Colver. 


FULLEKTON   FIELD, 


321 


Residue  from  above  : 

Lubricating  stock 40.7  per  cent 

Asplialt    10.2  per  cent 

50.9  per  cent 
Lubricating  stock  from  above  : 
Fuel  distillate 14.9  per  cent 

Reduced  stock 25.8  per  cent 


24.7°  Beaum6 
Grade  "D" 


33.7°  Beaume 
21.0° 


40.7  per  cent 

On  bringing  these  figures  together,  they  give  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  20.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  29.1  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 33.7°  14.9  per  cent 

Reduced  stock 21.0°  25.8  per  cent 

Asphalt "D"  10.2  per  cent,  or  35.8  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

2438.* 
Fullerton  Oil  Company.     Well   No.  2. 

Gravity 32.8°  Beaumg 

Flash  point below  60°  F.  (open  test) 

This  is  a  very  limpid,  greenish-black  oil,  with  a  mild  and  gassy  odor, 
Distilhitioii. 

Sample  of  100  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F,  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
X  0.8)  for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are  as  follows  : 

Below  212°  F 5,5  per  cent  I         ^r.^^  n 

^-^         orv-.,  -loo  ..  o9.6     Beaume 

212   to  302° 18.3  per  cent  \ 

302  to  518° - 27.7  per  cent  40,8° 

Residue  above  518° 47,9  per  cent  11.0° 

Loss - 0.6  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

After  evaporation  of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  we  have 
the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  20.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  31.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil  and  lubricants 34.8  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  13.7  per  cent,  or  48.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 


Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 


!2— 63 


322  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

4420.* 
Petroleum   Development  Company.     Well  No.  35. 

Gravity 32.8"  Beaumg 

This  is  a  vei-y  limpid,  greenish-black  oil,  with  a  mild  and  gassy  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  180  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
curre'nt  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 12..5  per  cent  G0.9°  Beaume 

Second  cut 11.9  per  cent  52.2° 

Third  cut 23.3  per  cent  42.0° 

Fourth  cut 17.5  per  cent  31.7° 

Fifth  cut 29.4  per  cent  25.4° 

Fixed   carbon 5.4  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  inert  gas,  and  calculation 
of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaum6  12.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  12.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  23.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  15.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.7°  18.0  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 6.0  per  cent  \  2.'3.4°— 24.0% 

Asphalt "D"  18.5  per  cent,  or  47.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  crude  ran  pale,  and  treated  out  to  water- 
white,  sweet  oils  of  the  best  quality.  The  heavy  distillate  gave  a  semi- 
solid reduced  stock  containing  much  paraffin.  The  value  of  this  oil  is 
entirely  in  the  light  end. 

2441.t 
Puente  Oil  Company.     Columbia  lease. 

Gravity 33.0°   Beaum6 

Viscosity  at  60°  F 2.82  Engler 

This  is  a  very  limpid  oil  of  a  greenish-black  color  and  a  mild,  gassy  odor.     The 
number  of  the  well  from  which  sample  was  taken  is  not  recorded. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.  Residue 
reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  the  weight  corrected  (factor 
X  0.8)  for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are  as  follows  : 

""'"'^  IZ  ^ ir  n  """"  """\  \        60.9°  Beaume 

212  to  302° 16.0  per  cent  ) 

302   to   518° 27.6  per  cent  42.8° 

Residue  above  518° 50.0  per  cent  15.5° 

Loss    0.6  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
tAnalysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 


FULLERTON    FIELD.  323 

After  evaporation  of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  we  have 
the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°    Boaume  23.8  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  29.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil  and  lubricants 34.7  per  cent  (not  separated  ) 

Asphalt "D"  12.5  per  cent,  or  43.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

2439.* 

Puente  Oil   Company.     Columbia   lease. 

Gravity 33.4°  Beaume 

This  is  a  very  limpid  oil  of  a  greenish-black  color,  with  a  mild,  gassy  odor.     The 
number  of  the  well  from  which  sample  was  taken  is  not  recorded. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  100  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F. 
Residue  reduced  to  asphalt  by  open  evaporation,  and  weight  corrected  (factor 
X  O.S)for  oxidation  during  evaporation.     The  original  figures  are  as  follows : 

Below  212°  F 4.4  per  cent    )       ^^^o  t. 

213  to  302° 17.7  per  cent    J       ^^'^     ^"^"'^^ 

302  to  518° 30.8  per  cent  41.3° 

Residue  above  518° 45.6  per  cent  12.7° 

Loss   1.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  residue  to  asphalt,  and  calculation,  we  have  the 
following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  22.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  JNone 

Kerosene 42°  27.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil  and  lubricants 44.6  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  6.4  per  cent,  or  22.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
7449.t 
Petroleum    Development  Company.     Well   No.  39. 

Gravity 34.0°  Beaume 

Sulfur 0.41  per  cent  by  weight 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212  °  F 12.9  per  cent  63.4°  Beaumg 

212  to  302° 15.3  per  cent  53.1° 

302  to  392° 11.5  per  cent  44.0° 

392  to  482° 11.1  percent  33.6° 

482  to  572° 9.6  per  cent  30.7° 

572°  to  grade— a 19.5  per  cent  26.3° 

.572°  to  grade — ^b 6.5  per  cent  25.8° 

Asphalt    11.0  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    2.6  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  E.  N.  Moor. 
tAnalysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


32-4  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis ; 

Gasoline 61°  Bcaume  17.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  10.5  per  cent 

Kei-osene 42°  IG.O  per  cent 

Stove  oil  — 33°  16.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 26.1°  26.4  per  cent 

Asphalt   "D"'  11.0  per  cent 

Loss 2.6  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 


4419. 


Petroleum   Development  Company.     Well  No.  39. 

Gravity 34.3°  Beaumo 

This  is  the  same  oil  as  is  shown  by  analyses  2467  and  7449.  A  comparison  of 
these  figures  will  show  how  much  the  results  are  influenced  by  even  slight  differences 
in  the  method  of  running.  The  figures  below  come  closer  than  the  others  to  represent- 
ing the  results  which  would  be  had  in  large  scale  refining. 

First  cut 23.7  per  cent  60.5°  Beaume 

Second  cut 11.3  per  cent  49.1° 

Third  cut S.3  per  cent  40.6° 

Fourth  cut 24.7  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 28.9  per  cent  20.6° 

Fixed  carbon 3.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  calculation  of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis: 

Gasoline 01°  Beaume  22.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate   52°  S.O  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  13.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil : 33°  24.5  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 20.6°  24.2  per  cent 

xVsphalt   "D"  7.8  per  cent,  or  27.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  very  pale  and  sweet,  and  treated 
well.  The  lubricating  stock  was  not  rerun — compare  Nos.  7449  and 
2467. 

*Analysls  by  J.  P.  P. 


FULLERTON    FIELD,  325 


M67.« 


Petroleum   Development  Company.     Well  No.  39. 

Gravitj- 34. .j'  Boaume 

This  is  a  veiy  limpid,  greenish-black  oil,  with  a  mild,  gassy  odor. 
Distillations. 

A  sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  to  a  temperature  of  518°  F.     Residue 
from  this  distillation  reduced  to  "D"'  asphalt  in  vacuum.     Lubricating  stock 
from  this  run  reduced  to  a  23.0°  stock  in  vacuum.     The  results  from  the 
three  distillations  are  : 
Crude  oil : 

Below  212"  F 6.2  per  cent  70.0"  Be. 

212  to  302° 17.1  per  cent  00.2°   " 

302   to  51S° 28.6  per  cent  43.0° 

Residue  above  518° 48.1  per  cent  17.0°" 


'  62.0°  Beaume 


100.0  per  cent 
Residue  from  above  : 

Lubricating  stock 33.7  per  cent  26.5°  Beaume 

Asphalt 14.4  per  cent  Grade  "D" 

48.1  per  cent 
Lubricating  stock  from  above  : 

Fuel  distillate 12.5  per  cent  .>2.7°  Beaum6 

Reduced  stock       21.2  per  cent  23.0° 

33.7  per  cent 

On  bringing  these  figures  together  they  give  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  24.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  27.4  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 32.7°  12.5  per  cent 

Reduced  stock 23.0°  21.2  per  cent 

Asphalt "D"  14.4  per  cent,  or  50.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 


'■Analysis  by  Wayne  Colver. 


326  PETROLKUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

SCATTERING  WELLS  IN  LOS  ANGELES,  ORANGE,  AND 
SAN  BERNARDINO  COUNTIES. 

In  these  three  counties  a  number  of  wells  have  been  drilled  at  greater 
or  less  distance  from  any  of  the  other  producing  fields.  Because  of  the 
scattering  nature  of  this  work,  it  is  difficult  to  treat  it  in  connection  with 
any  of  the  other  fields,  and  it  is  therefore  brought  together,  regardless  of 
location,  in  this  chapter.  In  all,  these  wells  have  been  located  in  seven- 
teen distinct  groups,  of  from  one,  to  as  high  as  fourteen  wells,  and  are 
scattered  all  the  way  from  the  line  of  Ventura  and  Kern  counties,  on  the 
west  and  north,  to  the  Mojave  desert  and  the  south  line  of  Orange 
County. 

LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY. 

LANCASTER. 

The  town  of  Lancaster  is  located  on  the  Valley  division  of  the  South- 
ern Pacific  railroad,  eight  miles  from  the  north  line  of  the  county.  This 
is  on  the  southern  edge  of  the  Mojave  desert,  which  stretches  north  to  the 
foot  of  the  Tehachapi,  and  east  into  San  Bernardino  County.  From 
the  Tehachapi,  on  the  north,  and  which  consists  entirely  of  granite  and 
highly  metamorphosed  rocks,  to  the  San  Gabriel  and  San  Bernardino 
ranges  on  the  south,  the  desert  is  a  flat  plain,  very  little  eroded,  with  a 
surface  consisting,  in  the  southern  and  western  portions,  of  a  light  clay 
soil,  very  fertile  where  water  can  be  had,  and  in  the  northern  and  east- 
ern portions  of  loose  granitic  sand,  dotted  with  dry  alkali  lakes.  From 
this  plain  rise  many  isolated  peaks,  and  ridges,  most  of  which  are  of 
volcanic  origin,  and  at  the  east  in  particular  evidences  of  extensive  vol- 
canic action  are  numerous  and  widespread.  Aside  from  these  volcanic 
buttes  and  ridges  but  little  rock  is  to  be  seen,  and  late  marine  sediments 
are  entirely  wanting,  except  on  the  southwestern  border  of  the  basin, 
Avhere  the  rocks  of  the  San  Gabriel  consist  in  part  of  marine  sandstones 
and  shales.  The  indications  are  that  this  great  basin  has  been  the  site  of 
a  large  elevated  lake  at  no  distant  period. 

B.  F.  Carter  ivells.  The  two  wells  drilled  at  Lancaster  were  just  north 
of  the  town,  one  on  each  side  of  the  railroad,  in  sections  9  and  10,  7  N. 
12  W.,  S.B.M.  The  first  well  was  drilled  in  the  year  1900,  was  1400  feet 
deep,  and  is  said  to  have  had  traces  of  oil.  Well  No.  2  was  drilled  in 
1901,  was  2000  feet  deep,  and  was  abandoned  as  pinched,  casing  reduced 
to  4  inches.  The  contractor  who  drilled  these  wells  states  positively 
that  the  second,  at  least,  had  a  fair  showing  of  oil,  though  nothing 
approaching  a  paying  quantity. 

In  this  connection  two  wells  drilled  at  Mojave  may  be  mentioned, 
though  they  are  over  the  line,  in  Kern  County. 


SCATTKIMXO    WELLS    IX    LOS    AXGELES    COUNTY.  327 

Swastika  Oil  Syndicate.  This  company  started  a  hole  a  short  distance 
northeast  of  the  town  in  1910,  and  was  still  drilling  late  in  the  following 
year.  This  well  is  said  to  have  reached  a  considerable  depth,  but  what 
depth  is  not  certainly  known. 

Mojave  ivater  well.  A  well  somewhere  about  1800  feet  deep  is  said  to 
have  been  drilled  close  to  the  to^vn,  several  years  ago.  This  well  was 
designed  to  supply  the  town  with  water,  but  at  this  depth  developed 
very  little  water,  and  no  indications  of  oil  or  gas. 

CALABASAS. 

In  the  Santa  Monica  range,  near  the  west  line  of  Los  Angeles  County, 
two  wells  have  been  drilled.  This  range  has  already  been  noted  as  lying 
north  of  the  Salt  Lake  field.  From  this  point  it  reaches  to  the  west 
almost  the  entire  width  of  Ventura  County,  paralleling  the  ocean.  The 
rocks  of  these  hills  are  described  as  mainly  clays,  shales  and  sandstones, 
similar  in  every  respect  to  the  formations  found  in  the  Simi  and  Santa 
Clara  Valley  region  to  the  north.  No  direct  e\adences  of  petroleum  in 
the  way  of  seepages  or  brea  deposits  have  been  noted. 

Ramera  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  located  on  section  6,  1-17,  five 
miles  southwest  of  Calabasas  post  office,  and  eight  miles  from  Canoga,  on 
the  Chatsworth  branch  of  the  Southern  Pacific.  It  was  drilled  in  the 
years  1910  to  1912,  and  went  to  a  depth  of  2137  feet.  It  is  said  to  have 
had  a  good  deal  of  gas,  and  was  once  reported  to  have  had  a  streak  of 
shale  showing  thick  black  oil,  though  there  are  doubts  as  to  whether  this 
stratum  was  really  bituminous.  It  finally  struck  hot,  flowing  sulfur 
water,  and  was  suspended. 

Calahasas  Oil  Company.  This  hole  is  not  exactly  located,  but  is  said 
to  be  a  short  distance  north  of  the  Ramera  well,  and  near  the  summit  of 
the  ridge.     In  March,  1912,  it  was  reported  as  drilling,  at  667  feet. 

REDONDO. 

One  well  was  drilled  at  ]\Ianhattan  Beach,  and  at  least  three  south  of 
the  town  of  Redondo.  These  are  in  formation  very  similar  to  that  of 
the  San  Pedro  hills,  as  described  under  the  next  subhead. 

Hedley  &  Fidlerton;  Manhattan.  This  well  is  located  on  the  B.  B. 
Hiss  place,  on  Twenty-second  street,  Manhattan  Beach,  about  one  half 
mile  east  of  the  railroad.  It  was  drilled  in  1910  to  a  depth  of  540  feet, 
and  abandoned  with  a  bit  in  the  hole. 

Bixby  Ranch  well.  This  hole  is  located  on  Rancho  Los  Palos  Verdes, 
about  two  miles  south  of  the  town  of  Redondo,  and  nearly  as  far  from 
the  coast.  It  was  drilled  in  1910,  to  a  depth  in  excess  of  2600  feet.  No 
discovery  was  reported  to  this  depth,  but  the  final  results  are  not  known. 


328  PETKOLEUM   IN"    SOUTHERN"   CALIFORNIA. 

Volcano  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  of  this  company  were  located 
about  two  miles  south  of  Redondo,  but  close  to  the  coast,  No.  2  being 
about  one  half  mile  the  farther  south.  Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1900, 
and  abandoned  at  1100  feet  with  a  bit  in  the  hole.  Well  No.  2,  drilled 
in  the  succeeding  year,  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1285  feet,  and  aban- 
doned because  of  excessive  water.  Neither  of  these  holes  gave  any 
indications  of  oil. 

SAN   PEDRO. 

The  peninsula  on  which  the  town  of  San  Pedro  is  situated  consists  of 
a  single  range  of  hills,  rising  abruptly  from  the  ocean,  and  almost  as 
steeply  on  the  land  side,  and  ranging  nearly  east  and  west.  The  highest 
point  in  these  hills  is  Mt.  San  Pedro,  with  an  elevation  of  1482  feet, 
while  the  summit  of  the  ridge  lies  generally  at  about  1000  feet  elevation. 

A  description  of  the  superficial  geology  of  these  hills  is  given  by 
W.  L.  Watts  in  Bulletin  19  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau.  From  this 
description  it  appears  that  the  body  of  these  hills  is  composed  of  hard 
whitish  or  yellowish  shales,  shown  in  section  along  the  coast  line,  and 
overlain  on  the  land  side  by  a  tough  clay  formation.  At  Point  Fermin, 
and  also  on  Dead  Man's  Island,  to  the  east,  are  exposures  of  a  soft  yel- 
lowish sandstone.  All  of  these  rocks,  shales,  clays  and  sandstones 
are  bituminous  in  places,  or  traversed  by  bituminous  streaks. 

In  the  mass  of  the  hills  are  bodies  of  eruptive  rocks,  which  give  but 
small  exposures,  and  have  not  been  placed  relative  to  the  other  forma- 
tions. They  appear,  however,  to  have  been  injected  at  a  rather  late 
period,  and  probably  occur  as  dykes.  The  entire  structure  of  the  range 
appears  to  be  very  much  broken  and  disturbed.  No  live  seepages  have 
been  noted  in  these  hills,  the  occurrences  of  bitumen  being  in  the  form 
of  thin  asphaltic  stringers  in  the  shale,  and  a  dry  bituminization  of  the 
sandstones. 

Five  wells  are  known  to  have  been  drilled  in  the  endeavor  to  locate  a 
possible  oil  deposit,  in  addition  to  the  three  wells  at  the  west  end  of  the 
range  noted  under  the  head  Redondo.  As  will  be  seen  from  the  list 
below,  none  of  these  wells  tested  the  country  to  any  great  depth,  though 
such  results  as  were  had  were  not  of  an  encouraging  nature. 

San  Pedro  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1895,  at  the  foot  of 
the  hill  just  west  of  the  town.  This  well  showed :  adobe  soil  to  100  feet, 
dark-colored  shale  and  brea  to  400  feet,  light-colored  shale  to  550  feet, 
brown  shale  to  850  feet.  The  water  in  this  well  was  shut  off  near  the 
surface,  and  it  is  said  that  small  quantities  of  heavy  oil  were  found. 
Abandoned  at  850  feet  because  of  lost  tools. 

Pierson  Hotel  tvell.  This  well  was  drilled  many  years  ago,  by  parties 
now  unknown,  near  the  old  Pierson  Hotel.  Watts  reports:  "This  Avell 
is  said  to  be  495  feet  deep,  nearly  all  clay,  or  clay  shale,  with  a  little 
brea,  and  with  a  stratum  of  asphaltum  near  the  bottom  of  the  hole." 


SCATTERING    WELLS    IN    LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  329 

Neiv  San  Pedro  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  on  tHe  north  face  of  the 
hills,  a  short  distance  west  of  the  town.  It  was  drilled  in  1901.  andwa.s 
carried  to  something  over  800  feet,  where  it  was  abandoned  for  financial 
reasons.  The  owners  of  this  well  report  that  it  fonnd  much  water  and 
a  showing  of  gas,  but  no  oil. 

Dodson  well.  The  so-called  Dodson  well  was  a  short  distance  south- 
east of  the  foregoing,  and  in  about  the  same  position  as  regards  the  hill 
formation.  It  was  drilled  in  1901,  and  abandoned  at  about  900  feet, 
finding  a  good  deal  of  sulfur  water,  and  a  little  gas. 

Lighthouse  Oil  Company.  The  location  of  this  well  was  due  south  of 
the  town  of  San  Pedro,  on  the  point  close  to  Point  Fermin  lighthouse. 
This  well  was  drilled  in  1901,  and  abandoned  at  something  over  800  feet, 
for  financial  reasons.  It  is  said  to  have  shown  nothing  in  the  way  of 
indications  except  a  little  of  the  dry  bitumen  which  is  in  evidence  on 
the  surface  at  this  point. 

LONG   BEACH. 

Two  wells  drilled  for  water  in  the  city  of  Long  Beach  gave  indications 
of  oil,  though  these  were  never  followed  up. 

The  well  drilled  at  the  asbestos  plant  struck  gas  at  a  depth  of  350  feet, 
and  is  reported  to  furnish  enough  gas  to  run  the  plant.  No  oil  was 
found  in  this  well. 

A  water-well  drilled  at  one  of  the  laundries,  to  a  depth  of  375  feet, 
also  found  a  little  gas,  which  bubbles  up  through  the  water.  There  is 
enough  heavy  oil  in  this  well  to  spoil  the  water  for  the  use  of  the  plant, 
and  it  is  said  that  after  standing  for  some  time,  clean  oil  may  be  dipped 
from  the  surface  of  the  water  as  it  stands  in  the  casing. 

NORTH   OF   LOS   ANGELES. 

At  least  four  wells,  and  probably  several  others  of  which  no  certain 
records  remain,  were  drilled  a  short  distance  north  of  the  bounds  of  the 
Los  Angeles  City  map.  The  two  western  wells  were  on  the  north  side  of 
the  so-called  Los  Angeles  anticline,  the  two  toward  the  east  were  in  a 
strip  of  formation  similar  to  that  of  the  Los  Angeles  field,  extending  to 
the  northward  into  and  over  the  older  formations  of  the  San  Gabriel 
range.  With  these  may  be  included  ten  holes  whose  locations  are  shown 
on  the  map,  north  of  the  fault-line  bounding  the  City  field.  The  results 
from  these  wells  indicate  that  the  strata  north  of  the  fault  are  oil- 
bearing  at  many  places,  but  no  production  has  ever  been  had.  while  a 
great  deal  of  water  was  found  in  all  the  holes  drilled.  This  territory  as 
a  whole  appears  to  be  considerably  disturbed. 

Angelina  Heights  well.  Described  as  located  in  Lot  26,  Block  19.  of 
Angelina  Heights  addition.  Reported  to  have  passed  through  a  six-foot 
sand  at  960  feet,  carrying  considerable  oil,  but  was  abandoned  at  1186 
feet  because  of  quicksand  and  water.     Drilled  about  1895. 


330  PETEOLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN"   CALIFORNIA. 

Bryant  &  Company.  Described  as  having  been  located  at  Ivanhoe, 
and  probably  on  tlie  northwest  quarter,  northeast  quarter,  section  7,  1  N. 
13  W.  This  well  was  more  than  1000  feet  deep,  and  penetrated  mainly 
soft  sandstone  and  sandy  shale,  with  calcareous  hard  shells.  Small 
quantities  of  oil  and  much  water  were  found. 

Chance  ivell.  Near  the  corner  of  Echo  Park  road  and  Belmont 
avenue,  Los  Angeles  City.  Drilled  about  1895,  and  abandoned  at  450 
feet  because  of  water  and  running  sand.  Said  to  have  had  a  showing  of 
oil  near  the  bottom. 

Climax  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  not  exactly  located,  but  is  said  to 
have  been  on  the  Verdugo  road,  one  and  one  half  miles  north  of  Gar- 
vanza,  which  would  be  in  the  east  end  of  Eagle  Rock  Valley.  It  was 
drilled  in  1901,  and  was  abandoned  at  a  little  over  700  feet,  with  the 
tools  in  the  hole.     Much  water  was  found,  but  no  indications  of  oil. 

Eureka  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  on  the  line  of  Effie  street,  about 
four  hundred  feet  north  of  Berkeley  avenue.  It  is  said  that  this  hole 
was  abandoned  at  about  700  feet  because  of  water,  having  had  a  showing 
of  oil. 

Fudicker  well.  South  of  the  corner  of  First  and  Reno  streets,  Los 
Angeles  City.  This  location  is  just  north  of  the  fault  line,  or  possibly 
in  broken  material.  It  was  drilled  about  1895  to  a  depth  of  550  feet, 
through  sandstone  and  shale.  The  sandstone  showed  a  little  oil,  but  the 
well  struck  flowing  water,  which  issued  from  the  well  for  a  long  time, 
carrying  a  little  oil. 

Gasson  &  Co.  This  well  is  not  located,  but  is  said  to  have  been  on  the 
Hunter  tract,  west  of  Garvanza.  Drilled  about  1895  to  a  depth  of 
985  feet,  and  abandoned  because  of  water.     No  oil  was  found. 

Lookout  Mountain  icell.  This  well  was  located  just  north  of  Reservoir 
street  a  short  distance  west  of  the  line  of  Figueroa  street,  Los  Angeles 
City.  This  location  is  a  short  distance  north  of  the  fault-line.  This 
well  is  reported  to  have  been  drilled  to  550  feet,  and  abandoned  because 
of  water,  with  a  .small  showing  of  oil. 

Mcintosh  ivell.  Located  at  the  corner  of  Bellevue  avenue  and  Old 
Temple  road,  Los  Angeles  City,  just  north  of  the  fault-line.  This  well 
was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1004  feet,  and  finally  abandoned  on  account  of 
water,  which  was  met  at  intervals  from  the  top  of  the  hole  to  the  bottom. 
Oil  was  found  at  80  feet,  165  feet,  406  feet,  432  feet  and  520  feet,  at 
which  depth  the  oil  rose  three  hundred  feet  in  the  hole,  and  baled  20 
barrels  in  one  afternoon.  Below  this  nothing  but  water  was  found  to 
996  feet,  when  another  small  showing  of  oil  was  had.  The  formation 
was  soft  sandstone  and  clay  shale. 


SCATTERING  WELLS  IN  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY.  331 

Okell  &  Barher.  The  location  of  this  well  is  a  short  distance  south- 
east of  the  foregoing.  It  was  abandoned  at  300  feet  because  of  water, 
and  had  showings  of  oil  in  shale  at  90  feet  and  110  feet. 

Oregon  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  farthest  to  the  west  of  the 
string  of  wells  along  the  north  side  of  the  break,  being  at  Vermont 
avenue  and  Barrow  street.  It  is  said  to  have  been  abandoned  at  209 
feet,  with  some  water,  but  no  oil. 

Polliemus  well.  This  hole  is  a  short  distance  northwest  of  the  Okell  & 
Barber  well.  It  was  drilled  at  a  very  early  day,  probably  as  early  as 
1865.     It  is  said  to  be  390  feet  deep,  and  yielded  water  and  a  little  oil. 

Sisters'  Hospital  wells.  Just  north  of  the  Sisters'  Hospital  grounds, 
M'here  there  are  several  producing  wells,  are  two  water  wells,  said  to  be 
800  feet  deep,  without  any  showing  of  oil.  These  wells  are  evidently 
back  of  a  very  sharp  break,  as  the  producing  wells  just  south  get  their 
oil  at  a  less  depth. 

,  Union  Oil  Company.  A  well  was  drilled  by  this  company  at  First 
and  Alvarado  streets,  just  north  of  the  line  of  production.  This  well 
was  carried  to  900  feet,  and  abandoned  on  account  of  water.  It  is 
reported  that  an  oil-yielding  sand  was  found  about  fifty  feet  down,  but 
below  this  nothing  but  water,  indicating  that  this  hole  was  immediately 
on  the  upper  edge  of  the  producing  formation. 

Wilmot  &  Holden.  This  well  is  on  the  Long  place,  on  Prospect 
avenue,  about  one  half  mile  east  of  Vermont.  Reported  to  be  500  feet 
depp,  and  to  have  struck  flowing  water  carrying  a  little  oil  at  175  feet. 

TJiompson  Bros.  Located  on  Morton  street,  between  Geneva  and 
Mecca  avenues.  Depth,  625  feet,  with  a  thin  stratum  of  oil  sand,  and 
much  water. 

SOUTH    OF    LOS   ANGELES. 

At  least  seven  wells  have  been  drilled  south  of  the  central  City  field, 
and  a  number  south  of  the  West  field,  but  of  the  latter  no  records  what- 
ever can  be  found,  except  of  two  wells,  though  it  is  believed  that  there 
were  a  number.     The  list  so  far  as  kno^\^l  is  as  follows : 

Maier  &  Zohelein.  Two  wells  were  drilled  on  the  property  of  the 
]\raier  &  Zobelein  Brewing  Company,  between  Commercial,  Aliso,  Vignes 
and  Amelia  streets.  The  first  hole  was  about  1100  feet  deep,  the  second 
1600  feet.  Considerable  bituminous  shale  was  encountered  dowm.  to  the 
700-foot  level,  and  flowing  water  at  825  feet,  then  shale  to  1266  feet,  and 
below  this  sand  and  gravel,  with  much  water.  Neither  well  showed  any 
oil.  and  both  were  abandoned. 

ZJnited  States  Hotel  well.  On  the  property  of  the  LTnited  States  hotel, 
on  Main  street,  opposite  the  post  office,  a  deep  water-well  Avas  drilled  in 


332  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

the  year  1883,  This  hole  was  900  feet  deep,  and  found  water  with  a 
good  deal  of  inflammable  gas  in  blue  shale. 

Mcintosh  ivell  No.  2.  This  well  is  at  the  corner  of  State  and  Mignon- 
ette streets.  It  was  carried  to  1025  feet,  mostly  in  sandy  clay,  with 
salt  water,  but  no  oil. 

Allison  &  Barlow.  This  well  was  drilled  near  the  corner  of  Second 
street  and  Beaudry  avenue.  Depth  said  to  be  about  1000  feet,  aban- 
doned on  account  of  water.     No  oil. 

Dunkelherger  ivell.  At  the  corner  of  Second  and  Emerald  streets. 
About  800  feet  deep,  with  a  very  little  oil,  but  much  water. 

Johnson  well.  This  well  was  drilled  near  the  corner  of  Third  and 
Figueroa  streets,  and  at  a  depth  of  1100  feet  had  water  only. 

Perkins  well.  Located  near  Third  and  Jewell  streets.  Was  drilled  to 
a  depth  of  600  feet,  and  had  salt  water  only. 

COMPTON. 

Between  Howard  Summit  on  the  San  Pedro  line,  and  Compton  on  the 
line  to  Long  Beach,  seven  shallow  wells  have  been  put  down.  These 
wells  were  not  drilled  for  oil,  but  as  they  M^ere  in  untested  territory,  and 
gave  some  indications  of  bitumen,  they  are  of  interest. 

Three  wells  were  drilled  at  an  early  date  on  the  C.  E.  Eosecrans  tract, 
in  sections  18  and  19,  3-13.  Two  of  these  wells  were  135  feet  and  90  feet 
deep,  the  depth  of  the  third  is  not  recorded.  The  deeper  well  gave  suffi- 
cient gas  to  be  used  for  fuel  purposes,  for  many  year.s,  the  shallower 
only  a  small  amount. 

About  one  and  one  half  miles  southeast  of  these  wells,  on  Duncan 
property,  in  the  Hayward  tract,  a  400-foot  water  well  shows  quite  a  lot 
of  gas.  It  is  said  that  there  is  a  deposit  of  brea  in  the  vicinity  of  this 
well,  which  has  been  collected  and  used  for  fuel. 

In  a  330-foot  well,  half  a  mile  west  of  the  Rosecrans  wells,  shale  carry, 
ing  oil  was  found  at  a  depth  of  180  feet,  and  a  black  carbonaceoiLS  streak 
at  197  feet. 

In  1900  an  oil  well  was  reported  to  be  drilling  in  section  19,  a  short 
distance  southeast  of  the  gas  wells.  It  had  then  reached  a  depth  of 
420  feet,  and  the  drillers  claimed  to  have  a  showing  of  oil,  but  the  later 
history  of  the  well  is  not  now  discoverable. 

There  is  also  said  to  be  a  showing  of  oil  on  the  water  from  a  380-foot 
irrigation  well  in  section  23,  southeast  of  the  Rosecrans  wells. 

Even  these  slender  indications  are  of  interest  in  connection  with  the 
fact  that  these  wells  are  located  along  a  little  ridge,  perhaps  100  feet  in 
height,  a  continuation  of  the  Tijera  hills.  This  low  roll  is  the  only 
interruption  to  the  continuity  of  the  plain  between  Los  Angeles  and  the 
ocean,  and  has  the  same  position  relative  to  the  Santa  Monicas  as  have 


SCATTERTNG    WELLS    IN^    LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  333 

the  Coyotes  to  the  Puente  hills.  Where  the  summit  of  this  raise  is  cut 
through  by  the  Long  Beach  electric  line,  an  anticlinal  structure  is 
plainly  shown,  and  it  seems  strange  that  (at  least  so  far  as  could  be 
learned)  no  prospecting  has  ever  been  done  along  this  ridge.  It  seems 
quite  certain  that,  if  any  oil  is  to  be  found  between  Los  Angeles  and  the 
ocean,  a  point  along  the  ridge  between  Palms  and  Compton  would  be 
the  most  favorable  place  at  which  to  drill. 

RAPETTO    HILLS. 

The  Rapetto  hills  are  a  continuation  to  the  eastAvard  of  the  ridge  in 
which  the  Los  Angeles  oil  deposits  occur,  and  connect  this  range  with 
the  Puente  hills,  in  which  the  Whittier  and  Fullerton  fields  are  found. 
The  formations  are  of  similar  age  and  structure  to  those  of  the  Puente 
liills,  though  in  the  Rapettos  the  anticlinal  form  seems  to  be  more  per- 
fect and  less  disturbed  by  faulting.  Nevertheless,  though  some  deep 
drilling  has  been  done,  no  indications  of  oil  have  been  found. 

Puente  Oil  Company.  The  Rapetto  well  of  this  company  was  located 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  29, 1  S.  12  W. 
This  well  was  drilled  in  1910,  and  was  abandoned  at  2600  feet  without 
the  slightest  indications  of  oil. 

Standard  Oil  Company.  This  company's  No.  1  well  was  located  on 
the  northeast  quarter^  northwest  quarter,  section  34,  1-12,  while  No.  2 
was  on  the  southwast  quarter,  northeast  quarter,  28,  1-12,  both  on  land 
of  the  Monterey  Park  Land  Company.  These  wells  were  drilled  in  1910, 
and  are  said  to  have  each  been  very  close  to  3300  feet  deep.  They  were 
abandoned  when  drilled,  and  appear  to  have  been  completely  dry. 

Arctic  Oil  Company.  The  three  wells  of  this  company  on  land  of 
R.  Garvey  are  on  the  east  half,  northeast  quarter,  section  34,  1-12. 
These  wells  were  drilled  in  1897  and  1898,  and  were  dry  holes  at  600 
feet,  1200  feet  and  1100  feet,  respectively. 

Dollar  Oil  Company.  This  Avell  is  located  on  the  northwest  quarter, 
southwest  quarter,  section  32,  1-12.  At  last  reports  it  was  drilling  at 
intervals,  and  had  reached  a  depth  of  some  2000  feet.  Traces  of  oil 
were  claimed  at  about  1000  feet,  but  an  examination  of  the  dump  did  not 
substantiate  this,  and  the  hole  is  believed  to  have  been  barren. 

Bdlt  Vernon  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  located  just  one  mile  south 
of  the  above,  and  is  on  the  flat  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  while  the  Dollar 
Avell  is  on  gently  sloping  ground,  and  the  Puente,  Standard  and  Arctic 
wells  are  near  the  summit  of  the  ridge.  This  well  was  started  early  in 
1911,  and  at  the  end  of  that  year  was  said  to  be  nearly  3000  feet  deep, 
and  was  drilling  at  intervals.     The  results  from  this  well  are  not  known. 

As  these  wells  were  located  in  such  manner  as  to  cross-cut  the  forma- 
tion, they  seem  to  dispose  of  any  possibility  of  finding  oil  in  this  portion 
of  the  range. 


334  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

Whiting,  Dwight.  A  well  owned  by  D.  Whiting  et  at.  was  drilling  in 
June,  1900,  at  the  intersection  of  the  San  Gabriel  branch  of  the  Southern 
Pacific,  and  the  El  Monte  wagon  road.  This  is  in  the  northwest  quarter, 
southeast  quarter,  section  19,  1-12.  At  this  time  the  well  was  reported 
to  be  500  feet,  drilling,  and  to  have  passed  a  thin  oil  sand  at  about  300 
feet,  but  the  final  depth  is  not  known. 

Okell  Core  Drill  Company.  Started  a  well  on  the  northeast  quarter, 
southwest  quarter,  section  18,  1-12,  in  the  year  1911.  Results  not 
known. 

CHINO    VALLEY. 

But  little  drilling  has  been  done  in  the  Chino  Valley,  and  this  not  for 
oil,  though  in  one  well  a  small  amount  of  oil  was  found  and  is  still  in 
evidence. 

Schuyler  Ranch  well.  On  the  Schuyler  ranch,  section  16,  1  S.  1  E., 
a  300-foot  well  drilled  for  water  is  reported  to  have  a  small  amount 
of  oil. 

Sickleworth  Ranch  well.  This  well  was  located  in  section  5,  2-10,  a 
short  distance  north  of  the  town  of  Puente.  This  well  was  carried  to  a 
depth  of  800  feet,  and  found  much  water,  but  no  oil. 

Two  wells  are  said  to  have  been  drilled  near  the  town  of  Azusa,  but 
no  further  information  could  be  had. 

At  the  foot  of  the  Puente  range,  southeast  of  the  town  of  Puente,  a 
shallow  hole  has  lately  been  drilled,  in  which  a  good  showing  of  light  oil 
was  struck.  Details  are  not  known,  but  it  is  said  that  the  hole  gave 
enough  oil  to  bale,  and  that  this  was  materially  lighter  than  the  oil  from 
the  Puente  wells. 

ORANGE  COUNTY. 

OLIVE. 

A  single  well  is  known  to  have  been  drilled  about  four  miles  east  and 
a  little  south  of  the  town  of  Olive,  eight  miles  southeast  of  the  Anaheim 
wells  of  the  Amalgamated  Oil  Company. 

Orange  County  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  13,  4-9.  It  was  drilled  in  the  year  1900, 
to  a  depth  of  700  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  shown  traces  of  oil.  This 
well  is  in  the  bed  of  Santiago  Creek,  a  short  distance  above  the  point 
where  it  emerges  from  the  hills.  This  creek  for  some  distance  follows 
the  foot  of  a  fault  scarp,  the  north  being  the  upthrust  side.  The  rocks 
here  are  mainly  sandstone  with  a  little  shale,  and  near  the  mouth  of  the 
creek  a  capping  of  what  appears  to  be  volcanic  ash  is  found.  Farther 
up  the  creek,  and  on  the  north  side,  are  workable  deposits  of  a  soft  and 
rather  lignitic  coal,  but  no  direct  indications  of  oil  are  reported  from 
any  point  in  these  hills. 


SCATTERING    AVEI.LS    TNT    ORAXGE    COUXTY.  335 

SANTA   ANA. 

East  and  southeast  of  the  town  of  Santa  Ana  are  two  shallow  holes 
drilled  for  oil,  both  of  which  are  dry, 

Wm.  Manser  wells.  Drilled  in  the  year  1894,  on  lots  28-1  and  383  of 
the  San  Joaquin  ranch.  These  wells  are  484  feet  and  719  feet  deep,  and 
were  drilled  through  gravel,  sand  and  clay,  but  found  no  oil. 

NEWPORT   BAY. 

Eleven  wells  have  been  drilled  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Newport 
Bay,  a  town  and  harbor  eighteen  miles  southeast  of  Long  Beach.  The 
town  is  situated  on  flat  land,  elevated  but  little  above  high  tide  line. 
Back  of  this  flat  land,  which  is  about  one  mile  wide,  and  parallel  to  the 
beach,  is  a  bluff  perhaps  one  hundred  feet  in  height,  above  which  is  a 
flat  mesa  stretching  away  for  a  long  distance  to  the  north.  This  bluff 
is  said  to  show  slight  seepages  of  oil,  though  these  could  not  be  found. 
The  wells  are  situated  on  this  mesa,  from  one  eighth  mile  to  two  miles 
from  its  edge,  and  the  depths  at  which  the  various  wells  reached  the 
sand  indicate  that  it  pitches  back  very  rapidly  from  the  ocean. 
Whether  this  bluff',  which  follows  the  ocean  for  some  distance,  is  due  to 
faulting  or  to  wave  action  is  not  apparent  on  the  surface,  but  the 
character  of  the  oil,  and  the  behavior  of  the  wells  close  to  the  edge,  indi- 
cate that  it  may  be  due  to  a  fault. 

Balhoa  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  the  farthest  from  the  ocean  of  any 
of  this  group,  being  on  the  east  side  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Company's 
Santa  Ana-Newport  line,  about  three  miles  from  the  beach.  It  was 
drilled  in  the  year  1909,  and  carried  to  2974  feet.  Much  gas  was  found, 
and  what  appeared  to  be  a  large  amount  of  oil,  but  there  was  much 
water  in  the  hole,  and  the  oil  was  so  heavy  and  viscous  that  it  was  found 
impossible  to  pump  it.  The  well  was  suspended  for  a  long  time,  and  is 
believed  to  be  abandoned. 

Newport  Bay  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  three  wells  a  short 
distance  southeast  of  the  Balboa  well,  in  a  straight  line  directed  south- 
east. Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1906,  and  was  2640  feet  deep.  This 
well  had  an  encouraging  amount  of  oil,  but  the  casing  collapsed  and  the 
hole  was  abandoned.  Well  No.  2  was  about  three  hundred  feet  south- 
east of  No.  1,  and  was  drilled  in  1908.  Though  this  hole  was  carried 
much  deeper,  to  3442  feet,  it  had  only  traces  of  oil,  and  as  the  hole  at 
that  depth  was  not  in  condition  to  carry  farther  it  was  abandoned. 

Well  No.  3  was  about  the  same  distance  southeast  of  No.  2,  and  was 
drilled  in  1910.  This  hole  was  2809  feet  deep,  and  entered  a  stratiun  of 
very  heavy  tar,  from  which  more  or  less  fluid  was  pumped.  The  oil. 
however,  was  so  heavy  that  it  could  not  be  pumped  without  steaming, 
and  after  working  over  the  well  a  long  time,  the  property  was  abandoned 
and  the  corporation  dissolved. 


336  rKTROLEUi[    IN    SOUTIIERX    CALIFORNIA. 

A  comparisou  of  the  results  on  these  three  wells  indicates  very  strongly 
that  this  oil  was  not  found  in  a  stratum  of  sand,  as  in  the  fields  farther 
inland,  but  in  broken  formation  similar  to  that  of  the  Santa  Barbara 
coast.  Both  the  character  of  the  oil  and  its  occurrence  correspond 
exactly  Avith  those  of  the  tar  wells  at  Naples  and  Carpinteria. 

Kellerman  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  one  location 
southwest  of  Newport  Bay  No.  3,  and  almost  due  south  of  No.  2.  This 
well  was  drilled  in  1910,  to  a  depth  of  2995  feet.  Near  the  bottom  of 
the  hole  a  tar  streak  similar  to  that  encountered  in  Newport  Bay  No.  3 
was  entered,  and  the  well  was  put  on  the  pump.  This  oil  was  so  heavy 
that  when  not  heated  by  direct  sun,  it  could  be  rolled  into  a  ball,  and 
pumping  was  almost  an  impossibility,  the  small  amount  taken  from 
the  well  being  worried  out  a  little  at  a  time.  In  addition  to  this,  the 
upper  water  could  never  be  shut  off,  and  finally  the  well  was  pulled  and 
abandoned. 

Clyde  Jackson  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  on  the  west  side  of  the 
railroad,  almost  due  west  of  the  Newport  Bay  wells.     It  was  drilled  in 

1910,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  that  year  was  2800  feet  deep,  and  was 
being  cemented  for  the  third  or  fourth  time.  This  well  was  then  said 
to  have  some  oil,  but  was  so  thoroughly  flooded  as  to  prevent  a  test.  Its 
later  history  is  not  known. 

Tidewater  Oil  Com,pany.     This  company  started  to  drill  in  the  year 

1911,  a  short  distance  southwest  of  the  Kellerman  well.  The  results  of 
this  operation  are  not  known. 

Newport  Oil  Company,  or  Port  Orange  Aspkalt  Company.  A  com- 
pany operating  under  one  of  these  names  drilled  three  wells  not  far  from 
the  edge  of  the  bluff,  about  the  year  1900. 

Well  No.  1  was  775  feet  deep,  and  found  a  tar  similar  to  that  of  the 
Kellerman  well  between  180  feet  and  300  feet.  Well  No.  2  was  a  short 
distance  northwest  of  No.  1.  It  was  765  feet  deep,  and  found  the  same 
streak  at  300  feet.  Well  No.  3  was  southeast  of  No.  1.  It  was  885  feet 
deep,  and  was  a  dry  hole,  said  not  to  have  had  any  traces  of  the  material 
found  in  the  other  two  w-ells.  Nos.  1  and  2  were  pumped  for  a  short 
time,  but  the  small  yield  did  not  justify  operating  expense,  and  they 
were  abandoned. 

Santa  Ana  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  a  well  at  the  edge  of 
the  bluff,  about  one  mile  east  of  the  Newport  wells,  in  the  year  1889. 
This  well  was  1235  feet  deep,  and  found  much  water,  but  no  indications 
of  oil.  It  was  abandoned  because  of  lost  tools.  This  company  also 
operated  at  Piru,  Ventura  County,  and  at  two  points  in  the  Newhall 
field. 


SCATTERTNTr    WELLS   IN    SAN   BERNAEDINO    COUNTY.  337 

LAGUNA  BEACH. 

Laguna  Beach  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  a  well  at  Abalone 
point,  on  lot  164  of  the  San  Joaquin  ranch,  about  one  mile  northwest  of 
Laguna  Beach.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1899,  and  was  680  feet  deep. 
At  this  depth  the  casing  was  accidentally  shot  off,  and  the  hole  lost.  No 
indications  of  oil  were  found. 

SAN  JUAN   CAPISTRANO. 

The  territory  between  Newport  Bay  and  the  Orange  County  line  is 
described  in  some  detail  by  W.  L.  Watts,  Bulletin  19  of  the  State  Mining 
Bureau.  That  portion  of  the  coast  line  in  the  neighborhood  of  San  Juan 
Capistrano  is  characterized  by  thick  beds  of  a  yellowish  sandstone,  lying 
nearly  flat,  and  cut  into  cliffs  by  w^ave  action.  No  seepages  or  other 
superficial  indications  of  petroleum  have  been  noted  in  this  neighbor- 
hood.    Two  shallow  wells  have  been  drilled  in  this  vicinity. 

Egan  Ranch  ivells.  The  wells  are  located  on  Rancho  Niguel,  about 
one  mile  north  of  the  town  of  San  Juan  Capistrano,  in  section  36,  7-8. 
The  first  well,  315  feet  deep,  is  said  to  have  shown  gas  and  some  oil  in 
black  shale  near  the  bottom.  The  other  well  was  253  feet  deep,  and 
barren. 

SAN  BERNARDINO  COUNTY. 

CHINO. 

The  Puente  hills  extend  to  the  eastward  from  the  Fullerton  field,  and 
cross  the  southern  point  of  San  Bernardino  County.  The  lithologic 
character  of  these  hills  on  their  eastern  face  is  the  same  as  in  that 
portion  on  Avhich  the  Fullerton  wells  are  located,  and  as  there  are  bitu- 
minous deposits  at  a  number  of  points,  many  wells  have  been  drilled  in 
the  hope  of  finding  an  eastern  extension  of  this  field.  To  this  time, 
however,  such  efforts  have  not  met  with  success,  the  only  oil  found  being 
too  heavy  and  in  too  small  quantity  to  be  of  value.  The  records  of  this 
work  are  as  follows : 

Towns  well.  This  well  is  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  Puente  hills,  on 
the  east  face,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  17,  2-8,  about  two  miles 
southwest  of  the  town  of  Chino.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1900,  and 
abandoned  at  a  depth  of  1000  feet.  Flowing  sulfur  water  was  struck 
at  750  feet,  but  no  indications  of  oil  were  found. 

Gird  well  No.  1.  This  well  was  located  on  the  east  face  of  the  Puente 
range,  at  an  elevation  of  about  1000  feet,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  18,  2-8.  About  one  half  mile  southwest  of  this  location  is  a 
large  deposit  of  bituminous  sand.  This  well  was  drilled  about  1895,  to 
a  depth  of  some  800  feet.  It  is  reported  that  this  well  passed  through 
two  sands  yielding  oil,  but  that  these  were  cased  off  and  the  well  carried 
down  as  a  water  well? 
23—63 


338  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHEEN    CALIFORNIA. 

Chino  Valley  Beet  Sugar  Company.  Well  No.  1  of  this  compan\'  was 
drilled  on  tlie  Los  Angeles  County  side,  and  is  mentioned  under  the  head- 
ing Fullerton.  Well  No.  2  was  located  on  the  east  face  of  the  range,  at 
the  1200-foot  level,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  2-8.  This 
well  was  drilled  in  1898,  to  a  depth  of  1000  feet.  It  penetrated  shales 
of  various  colors,  and  streaks  of  sand,  finding  a  rather  dry  oil  sand 
between  440  and  465  feet,  which  gave  a  seepage  of  oil  near  the  bottom. 
Water  was  struck  below  this,  and  the  well  was  abandoned. 

Fullerton  Sunset  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  a  well  on  the 
flat  land  near  the  foot  of  the  hills,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Chino  Creek, 
northeast  quarter  of  section  36,  2-8.  This  well  was  drilling  in  the  year 
1901,  but  nothing  is  known  as  to  its  history. 

Union  Oil  Company;  Chino.  The  Chino  well  of  the  Union  Oil  Com- 
pany was  located  on  the  northwest  quarter,  section  34,  2-8,  just  at  the 
foot  of  the  eastern  face  of  the  Puente  range.  This  well  is  said  to  have 
been  some  3000  feet  deep,  and  was  abandoned  when  finished,  but  noth- 
ing can  be  learned  as  to  what  was  found. 

Cords  well.  This  old  well  was  located  on  the  northwest  quarter, 
section  32,  2-8,  just  north  of  the  Chino  Land  and  Water  Company's 
wells.     Nothing  is  known  as  to  its  history, 

China  Land  and  Water  Company.  The  first  three  wells  of  this  com- 
pany were  located  along  the  south  line  of  section  32,  2-8,  near  the  sum- 
mit of  the  ridge.  These  wells  were  drilled  about  the  year  1901,  and 
were  from  900  to  1000  feet  deep.  These  wells  all  made  a  little  oil,  and 
were  pumped  for  a  time,  but  the  oil  was  heavy  and  in  small  quantity, 
and  they  were  finally  abandoned  as  unprofitable. 

This  company  also  drilled  a  well  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
24,  2-8,  on  the  flat  southeast  of  the  town  of  Chino.  The  depth  of  this 
well  is  not  known.  A  stratum  of  heavy  tar  was  struck,  and  this  is  said 
to  be  still  flowing  slowly  from  the  abandoned  hole. 

Glolje  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  three  wells  south  of  the 
Chino  Land  and  Water  Company's  wells,  two  being  in  the  northeast 
quarter,  section  5,  and  one  in  the  northeast  quarter,  section  6,  3-8. 
These  wells  are  said  to  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  1000  feet  deep,  and  to 
have  found  a  little  heavy  oil,  but  no  profitable  production.  They  are 
abandoned. 

Oird  well  No.  2.  This  well  was  located  near  the  summit  of  the  ridge, 
but  rather  on  its  southeast  face,  on  the  northeast  quarter,  section  7,  3-8. 
This  well  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1200  feet,  and  penetrated  shales 
and  sands,  with  much  water.  This  water  was  brackish,  and  carried  a 
small  amount  of  oil. 


SANTA    BARBAKA    COUNTY.  339 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

SANTA  BARBARA  COUNTY. 

The  oil  deposits  of  Santa  Barbara  county  do  not  fall  stricth'  within 
the  scope  of  the  present  report,  as  the  San  Eafael  mountaics,  the  direct 
westerly  extension  of  the  Tehaehapis,  terminate  near  the  city  of  Ven- 
tura.  But  for  purposes  of  convenience  the  Santa  Maria  or  Cuyama 
river  has  been  arbitrarily  taken  as  a  northerly  boundary,  thus  including 
the  entire  area  of  Santa  Barbara  County  (which  properly  belongs  to  the 
Coast  country)  with  southern  California. 

The  counties  of  Santa  Barbara  and  Ventura  are  the  only  portions  of 
the  State  whose  main  topographic  lines  have  a  consistent  east  and  west 
direction.  In  all  other  parts  of  the  State,  though  varying  somewhat 
with  strictly  local  conditions,  the  higher  mountain  ranges  and  the 
principal  streams  bear  north-northwest  by  south-southeast,  or  parallel 
to  the  main  coast  line,  while  the  general  trend  of  minor  streams  and 
caiions  is  northeast  and  southwest.  But,  as  a  glance  at  the  map  of  the 
State  will  show,  the  coast  line,  which  as  far  south  as  Point  Arguello  has 
the  usual  southerly  trend,  here  bends  at  almost  a  right  angle,  and  from 
Point  Concepcion  follows  a  course  nearly  due  east  to  Punta  Gorda,  on 
the  eastern  boundary  of  Santa  Barbara  County,  thence  southeast  to 
Dume  Point,  just  east  of  Ventura  county,  thence  due  east  to  Santa 
Monica,  where  the  southerly  direction  is  resumed,  and  continues  to  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  State. 

As  stated  in  a  previous  chapter,  the  northern  portion  of  Ventura 
County  consists  of  a  shapeless  mass  of  mountains,  the  focus  of  a  number 
of  radiating  ranges.  To  the  east,  across  Los  Angeles  and  San  Bernar- 
dino counties,  extends  a  single  range  known  varioush'  as  the  Sierra 
Madre,  San  Gabriel  and  San  Bernardino  mountains.  To  the  north- 
east, the  Tehachapi  rears  a  high  barrier  between  the  ]\Io,jave  desert  and 
the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  swinging  to  join  the  Sierra  Nevada  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Inyo  County.  To  the  northwest  the  Coast  Eange 
mountains  lie  in  two  parallel  ranges,  the  eastern,  or  Mount  Diablo 
mountains,  forming  the  western  boundary  of  Kern  County,  leaving 
between  this  range  and  the  Santa  ]\Iargaritas  to  the  west  a  high  table- 
land known  as  the  Cuj'-ama  Valley  and  Carissa  plain;  while  to  the 
west  from  this  mountain  focus  extends  the  Santa  Ynez  range,  parallel 
to  the  San  Rafael  mountains  and  to  the  southern  coast  of  Santa  Barbara 
County,  and  terminating  but  a  short  distance  from  Point  Arguello. 

Santa  Barbara  County  thus  con.sists  of  an  area  of  rectangular  shape, 
bounded  on  the  east  by  a  clustering  mass  of  high  mountains,  on  the 
north  by  the  valley  and  caiion  of  Santa  Maria  Eiver,  on  the  south  by 
the  ocean,  with  a  narrow  strip  of  coa.st  land  backed  by  the  Santa  Ynez 


34:0  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

mountains,  and  on  the  west  by  the  ocean,  and  a  low  and  irregular  range 
of  hills  parallel  thereto.  The  nonmountainous  portion  of  the  county 
consists  of  the  valley  of  the  Santa  Maria  River,  in  the  northwestern 
portion  of  the  county ;  of  a  region  of  barren  sand  hills  along  the  west- 
ern coast;  of  the  Santa  Ynez  Valley,  lying  between  the  mountains  of 
that  name  and  the  low  hills  south  of  Santa  Maria  Valley,  and  of  the 
narrow  strip  of  coast  land. 

Santa  Maria,  Santa  Barbara  and  Los  Alamos  valleys,  and  portions  of 
the  coastal  strip,  are  intensively  cultivated.  The  lower  hills  are  devoted 
to  grazing,  but  the  higher  mountains  are  in  the  main  rocky,  rough,  and 
quite  sterile,  being  almost  waterless,  though  there  is  a  belt  of  pine 
timber  toward  the  west.  The  climate  over  the  whole  of  this  county  is 
warm,  equable  and  pleasant,  with  a  moderate  but  sufficient  rainfall 
occurring  entirely  during  the  winter  months.  The  whole  area  is  one 
of  great  scenic  beauty,  and  the  coast  strip  in  particular  is  famed  as  a 
winter  resort. 

Petroleum  has  been  found  or  diligently  sought  in  several  portions  of 
Santa  Barbara  County,  as  follows : 

Much  prospecting  has  been  done  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  Cas- 
malia  range  of  low  hills  parallel  to  the  western  coast.  At  only  one 
point,  near  the  railroad  station  of  this  name,  has  profitable  oil  been 
found.  These  developments  will  be  described  under  the  heading  Cas- 
malia. 

Between  the  Santa  Ynez  and  Santa  Maria  valleys  there  are  two 
ranges  of  hills,  of  moderate  height,  between  which  lies  the  narrow 
valley  of  Los  Alamos  Creek.  On  the  western  portion  of  the  range  to 
the  north  of  this  valley,  and  between  it  and  Santa  Maria  Valley,  lies  the 
"Santa  Maria"  or  Old  Field,  covering  both  the  north  and  south  sides 
of  the  hills.  This  is  the  only  case  so  far  noted  in  this  State  where  oil  is 
found  on  both  sides  of  a  single  hill  range.  This  field  is  a  large  producer 
of  light  oil. 

East  of  the  Old  Field,  but  lying  on  the  north  slope  only,  is  the  "Cat 
Canon"  or  "East  Side"  field,  an  important  source  of  heavy  oil  produc- 
tion, though  yet  but  partially  developed. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  hills  which  divide  Los  Alamos  from  Santa 
Ynez  Valley  lies  a  group  of  wells  known  as  the  Lompoc  or  Purissima 
group,  and  described  under  the  former  name.  These  wells  produce  oil 
of  medium  gravity. 

In  the  upper  reaches  of  the  Santa  Ynez  Valley  oil  has  been  sought  at 
a  number  of  points,  though  so  far  without  success.  These  develop- 
ments are  described  under  the  heading  ' '  Santa  Ynez. ' ' 

Between  Gaviota  and  Santa  Barbara,  along  the  southern  coast  of  the 
county,  persistent  search  for  oil  has  been  made,  confined  entirely  to  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  shore  line,  where  a  number  of  heavy  oil  seep- 


SANTA    BARBABA  COUNTY.  341 

ages  are  found.  Oil  in  small  quantities  has  been  found  in  several  wells, 
but  no  profitable  production.  These  developments  are  described  under 
the  heading  Naples  to  Santa  Barbara. 

Within  the  limits  of  the  little  town  of  Summerland,  a  very  small  pool 
of  heavy  oil  was  opened  some  years  since,  intensively  developed,  but 
now  nearly  exhausted.  This  group  of  wells  is  described  under  the  sub- 
heading ''Summerland." 

East  and  w^est  of  Summerland,  between  Santa  Barbara  and  the  mouth 
of  Rincon  Creek,  are  a  number  of  oil  seepages  and  a  deposit  of  bitu- 
minous rock.  Several  wells  have  been  drilled  near  these  seepages,  but 
no  production  has  been  had.  These  wells  are  described  under  the  head 
Santa  Barbara  to  Rincon. 

In  the  foothills  of  the  Santa  Ynez  range,  back  of  the  coast  strip  just 
mentioned,  is  a  line  of  older  outcrops,  W'hich  show  some  seepages. 
Several  wells  have  been  drilled  here,  and  one  lease  produced  some  oil 
for  a  time,  but  is  not  now  being  worked.  These  developments  are 
described  under  the  heading  Santa  Ynez  Foothills. 

Prospecting  has  been  carried  some  distance  up  Rincon  Creek,  and 
some  work  is  yet  under  way.  These  wells  are  almost  immediately  on 
the  line  between  Santa  Barbara  and  Ventura  counties,  and  two  or  three 
of  them  are  on  the  Ventura  side.  These  wells  are  to  be  found  under 
the  heading  Rincon  Creek. 
Wells  in  the  Casmalia  Group. 

Twelve  wells  have  been  drilled  in  the  Casmalia  hills,  lying  parallel  to 
the  w^est  coast  of  the  county.  Two  of  these  wells  are  considered  as 
producers,  two  or  three  others  found  a  little  heavy  tar,  but  the  others, 
though  quite  deep,  made  no  discovery  whatever,  and  the  territory  along 
the  coast  is  generally  considered  as  nonproductive,  except  for  the  small 
pool  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Casmalia.  The  records,  as  far  as  they 
were  obtainable,  are  as  follows : 

Casmalia  Eanch  Oil  and  Development  Company.  The  first  two  wells 
of  this  company  were  on  the  Rancho  Casmalia,  near  the  east  line,  and 
about  one  mile  from  Casmalia  station.  This  location  probably  falls  on 
section  23,  9-35. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1901,  and  was  980  feet  deep.  It  was  aban- 
doned because  of  the  loss  of  a  string  of  tools,  buried  in  caving  forma- 
tion, and  made  no  discovery. 

Well  No.  2  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1700  feet,  and  into  a  stratum  of 
liquid  asphalt.  This  rose  in  the  casing,  and  great  efforts  were  made  to 
get  production  from  the  hole,  but  the  tar  proved  too  heavy  to  handle, 
and  the  hole  was  finally  abandoned. 

Well  No.  3  was  located  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  railroad,  close  to 
Schumann  siding.  It  was  abandoned  at  a  slight  depth  for  financial 
reasons. 


342  PKTEOLEu:\r  in  southern  California. 

Casmalia  Petroleum  Company.  This  company  has  a  producing  well 
on  the  Rancho  Punta  de  la  Laguna,  a  short  distance  west  of  the  railroad, 
and  about  one  mile  north  of  Casmalia  station.  This  well  makes  an  oil 
of  about  11°  Beaume,  and  appears  to  be  capable  of  considerable  produc- 
tion, so  far  as  the  capacity  of  the  sands  is  concerned.  To  this  time,  the 
difficulty  of  handling  this  very  viscous  material  and  getting  it  out  of 
the  hole  has  prevented  either  a  large  or  a  steady  production.  The 
oil  is  desired  for  asphalt  making,  for  which  it  is  very  suitable. 

Keni  Trading  and  Oil  Company ;  Casmalia.  This  well,  known  locally 
as  the  Southern  Pacific  well,  is  close  to  the  railroad  line,  on  the  west 
side,  and  one  mile  north  of  Casmalia  station.  It  was  drilled  in  the  year 
1905  to  a  depth  of  2690  feet,  and  is  considered  a  producer.  The  oil, 
Avhich  is  extremely  heavy,  is  said  to  have  been  encountered  at  some  1600 
feet  depth,  but  the  hole  was  carried  down  in  the  hope  of  finding  a  light 
oil  sand  at  greater  depth.  It  is  said  that  indications  of  a  rather  light  oil 
were  had  at  the  bottom  of  the  hole,  but  the  heavy  oil  from  above  was 
never  cased  out,  and  finally  the  pipe  was  pulled  back  to  the  shallow  sand, 
and  the  Avell  put  on  the  pump.  As  with  the  Casmalia  well,  the  extreme 
viscosity  of  the  oil  has  prevented  any  large  production,  and  the  well  is 
pumped  only  at  intervals. 

ElizaJde  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  located  in  the 
hills  west  of  the  railroad,  between  Schumann  and  Waldorf  sidings,  but 
can  not  be  exactly  located.  It  was  drilled  in  the  year  1901,  to  a  depth 
of  about  1000  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  found  traces  of  oil,  though  the 
report  is  not  authenticated. 

Laguna  Land  Company.  This  company  drilled  two  shallow  holes  on 
land  of  the  Union  Beet  Sugar  Company,  near  Betteravia.  Both  these 
wells  stopped  in  the  shifting  sand,  and  were  of  slight  depth.  No  dis- 
covery was  made. 

Mulholland.  Oil  Company.  The  INIulholland  well  was  located  on  lot 
125  of  Rancho  Guadalupe,  west  of  the  railroad,  and  directly  back  of 
AA^aldorf  siding.  This  well  was  drilled  in  the  year  1901,  and  was  aban- 
doned at  1700  feet,  without  finding  any  indications  of  oil. 

Syndicate  Petroleum  Company.  This  well  was  located  about  two 
miles  northwest  of  Schumann  siding,  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 10,  9-35.  It  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  approximately  3300  feet, 
and  developed  much  water,  but  no  oil,  and  was  abandoned.  This  com- 
pany also  drilled  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Fullerton  field. 

The  Oil  Company.  A  company  with  this  extraordinary  name  drilled 
a  hole  somewhere  near  the  Syndicate  well,  but.  not  exactly  located. 
This  was  abandoned  at  3400  feet,  without  finding  any  oil. 

Traders'  Union  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  drilled 
in  the  year  1904,  just  west  of  the  railroad,  and  one  and  one  half  miles 


SANTA  BAEBAKA  COUNTY.  343 

north  of  Schumann  siding.     It  was  abandoned  at  a  depth  of  about  3350 
feet,  with  much  water,  but  no  oil. 
Wells  in  the  Santa  Ynez  Group. 

Under  this  heading  are  grouped  a  number  of  wells  scattered  over  the 
territorj^  south  of  the  Lompoc  and  Cat  Canon  wells,  and  falling  mainly 
within  the  bounds  of  Santa  Ynez  Valley  or  the  adjacent  hills.  With 
but  one  exception  (a  well  close  to  the  Cat  Canon  field)  none  of  these 
wells  have  developed  any  oil,  and  prospecting  has  ceased,  for  the 
present  at  least,  over  the  entire  area. 

Unfortunately,  the  information  available  as  to  many  of  these  wells  is 
very  scanty,  and  of  a  number  not  even  the  depths  can  be  learned.  It 
may  be  useful,  however,  to  give  a  list  of  the  wells  drilled,  and  such  data 
as  are  at  hand  regarding  them : 

Dome  Oil  Company ;  Wiclienden.  The  Dome  well  on  the  Wickenden 
tract  is  located  on  the  east  side  of  Caiiada  Arena,  about  two  miles  north 
G>f  Los  Alamos  Creek.  This  well  was  drilled  in  the  year  1911  to  a  depth 
approximating  2900  feet,  and  entered  a  body  of  very  heavy  and  viscous 
tar,  about  the  weight  of  water,  and  solid  enough  to  roll  into  balls  in  the 
hand.  There  appears  to  be  a  large  supply  of  this  material,  but  up  to 
this  time  it  has  been  found  impracticable  to  raise  any  large  quantity  to 
the  surface. 

Associated  Oil  Company ;  Pczzoni.  The  well  drilled  by  the  Recruit 
Oil  Company  on  the  Pezzoni  tract  (now  belonging  to  the  Associated  Oil 
Company)  is  located  on  the  west  side  of  Canada  Arena,  close  to  the 
south  line  of  Raneho  Tinaquaic,  and  about  one  and  one  half  miles  north 
of  the  Dome  well.  This  hole  was  drilled  in  the  year  1904,  and  carried 
to  a  depth  of  2200  feet.  It  is  said  to  have  had  traces  of  oil  at  1250  feet, 
but  nothing  below,  and  to  have  stopped  in  crystalline  rock  (diabase?). 

Princess  Oil  Company;  Muscio.  The  well  of  the  Princess  on  the 
Muscio  tract  is  on  the  west  side  of  Cuaslui  Creek,  about  one  half  mile 
south  of  the  southern  line  of  Raneho  Tinaquaic.  This  well  is  drilling, 
and  is  reported  (May,  1912)  to  be  3425  feet  deep,  and  to  have  had 
several  showings  of  oil,  mostly  in  shale. 

Oil  Fields  Syndicate.  The  well  of  this  company  is  on  the  John  Bell 
tract,  some  four  miles  west  of  the  Dome  and  Pezzoni  wells,  but  can  not 
be  exactly  located.  It  is  drilling,  and  is  reported  (May,  1912)  to  have 
considerable  oil  at  2650  feet. 

Primavera  Oil  Company.  This  company,  a  San  Francisco  corpora- 
tion, drilled  four  wells  on  the  Underbill  tract,  in  the  year  1901.  These 
wells  appear  to  have  been  on  lots  14  and  13  of  the  F.  T.  Underbill  ranch, 
a  portion  of  Raneho  Laguna.  Nos.  1  and  2  were  a  short  distance  east 
of  the  ranch  house,  and  about  one  half  mile  from  Los  Alamos  Creek, 


344  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

while  No.  4  was  about  one  mile  to  the  northeastj  and  No.  3  can  not  be 
located.  Nos.  1  and  2  were  lost  holes  at  about  500  feet  and  800  feet, 
respectively.  No.  3  was  abandoned  because  of  lost  tools  at  750  feet, 
and  No.  4  struck  boulders  and  much  fresh  water  at  about  500  feet.  No 
indications  were  found  at  this  slight  depth. 

Jalania  Oil  and  Development  Company.  This  company  is  said  to 
have  drilled  a  rather  shallow  hole  on  the  Diblee  ranch,  in  the  canon  of 
Jalama  Creek,  near  the  junction  of  Canada  la  Escondido,  and  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  Rancho  San  Julian.  This  hole  was  drilled  in  1902, 
and  found  no  oil.     The  depth  is  not  known. 

Bear  Creek  Oil  and  Mining  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was 
located  on  the  south  side  of  Bear  Creek,  on  the  Rancho  Lompoe,  and 
some  two  miles  from  the  ocean.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1907,  and 
e.'irried  to  a  depth  of  3500  feet.  It  found  a  little  tar,  as  is  usual  in 
wells  along  this  coast,  but  no  oil,  and  was  abandoned. 

The  Bear  Creek  company  later  developed  a  producing  property  in 
North  Midway,  Kern  County. 

Las  Cruces  Oil  Company.  This  hole  was  located  in  the  west  branch 
of  Gaviota  Creek,  on  the  east  line  of  Rancho  San  Julian,  and  four  miles 
(in  a  straight  line)  north  of  the  ocean.  It  was  drilled  in  1909  and  1910, 
to  a  depth  not  known,  but  in  excess  of  2900  feet,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  entirely  barren.     Abandoned. 

Micaela  Oil  Coynpany.  The  Micaela  well  is  also  reported  to  have  been 
abandoned,  but  nothing  is  known  as  to  its  history.  This  well  was 
located  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  26,  6-32. 

San  Lucas  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  located  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  Santa  Ynez  River,  four  miles  east  of  the  town  of  Santa  Ynez,  in 
section  14,  6-30.  It  was  drilled  in  1910  to  a  depth  of  3460  feet,  and  in 
spite  of  many  reports  to  the  contrary,  showed  no  indications  whatever 
of  oil,  being  from  top  to  bottom  in  a  light-brown  shale.     Abandoned. 

Santa  Ynez  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  drilled  \>y  this  company  in 
the  year  1900  can  not  be  located,  though  they  were  probably  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  town  of  Santa  Ynez.  Well  No.  1  is  said  to  have 
been  about  1000  feet  deep,  with  much  water,  but  no  oil,  while  No.  2  was 
abandoned  at  about  1400  feet,  also  without  indications. 

Santa  Barharar-California  Oil  Company.  No  information  whatever 
can  be  had  regarding  the  three  wells  of  this  company.  Nos.  1  and  2 
were  located  near  the  north  line  of  Rancho  San  Carlos  de  Jonata,  prob- 
ably in  sections  20  or  21,  7-31.  Well  No.  3  was  about  four  miles  to  the 
south,  in  section  9^  6-31.  Two  of  these  wells  are  said  to  have  been  quite 
deep,  and  all  three  to  have  been  entirely  barren. 

Buell  Ranch  Oil  Company.     The  well  of  this  company,  later  absorbed 


SANTA  BARBARA  COUNTY  345 

by  the  Associated  Oil  Company,  was  located  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  Rancho  San  Carlos  de  Jonata,  on  section  21,  7-32.  This  well  was 
abandoned  in  the  year  1901,  at  a  depth  of  510  feet,  with  much  water, 
but  no  oil. 

Associated  Oil  Company;  Bncll.  The  two  wells  of  the  Associated  Oil 
Company  on  the  Buell  Ranch  w^ere  a  short  distance  southeast  of  the 
Buell  Ranch  well  above  mentioned.  Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1901. 
and  is  reported  as  a  crooked  hole  at  either  1300  or  1600  feet.  Well 
No.  2  was  drilled  in  the  following  year,  and  was  also  a  dry  hole  at  about 
2500  feet. 

Associated  Oil  Company;  Zaca.  This  well  was  immediately  on  the 
north  line  of  Rancho  San  Carlos  de  Jonata,  and  but  a  short  distance  to 
the  south  of  Zaca  pumping  station.  Details  are  lacking,  but  it  is  said 
to  have  been  a  rather  deep,  dry  hole. 

Associated  Oil  Company ;  Fox.  This  well  was  drilled  by  the  Pacific 
Oil  Transportation  Company,  later  absorbed  by  the  Associated.  It  was 
located  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  13,  7-33,  and  was  drilled  in 
1904  to  a  depth  of  2985  feet.  This  was  reported  as  a  dry  hole,  though 
by  some  it  is  contended  that  there  was  a  good  showing  of  oil.  It  was 
abandoned,  but  not  pulled. 

Busk,  Hoff  &  Lombard.     The  old  hole  on  the  east  side  of  the  Gaviota 
Canon  road,  less  than  a  mile  from  the  ocean,  is  said  to  have  been  drilled 
by  these  parties,  but  the  history  of  the  hole  can  not  be  learned. 
Wells  in  the  Lompoc  Group. 

The  Lompoc  group  of  producing  wells  lies  along  the  north  line  of 
Rancho  Mission  de  la  Purissima,  about  five  miles  due  north  of  the  town 
of  Lompoc,  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  liigh  and  rough  ridge  dividing 
the  Santa  Ynez  Valley  from  that  of  Los  Alamos  Creek.  The  wells  at 
the  western  acd  eastern  extremities  of  the  strip  are  in  very  rough  and 
broken  country,  and  rather  inaccessible,  but  those  toward  the  center  are 
located  on  an  elevated  mesa,  with  a  smoother  and  more  open  surface. 
The  only  means  of  communication  between  these  wells  and  the  railroads 
on  each  side  is  by  roads  crossing  the  hills,  which  with  one  exception  are 
characterized  by  long  and  heavy  grades,  so  that  the  surface  of  the 
country  is  as  a  whole  much  less  favorable  to  operations  than  that  of 
the  Cat  Canon  district,  or  even  of  the  Old  Field. 

In  this  group  there  are  some  thirty-three  producing  wells,  about  six 
drilling  at  this  time,  and  some  fifteen  abandoned  holes.  These  wells 
follow  the  south  limb  of  an  east  and  west  anticline,  which  has  given 
some  oil  but  no  production  at  its  apex,  and  has  not  yet  proven  produc- 
tive on  the  north  limb.  The  productive  wells  of  the  group  cover  an 
area  of  perhaps  one  half  mile  in  width  (from  north  to  south),  and  some 


346  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

five  miles  in  length  (from  east  to  west).  At  the  west  end  a  definite 
limit  has  been  set,  only  a  short  distance  beyond  present  production,  by 
the  drilling  of  three  deep  failures.  The  wells  farthest  to  the  south  are 
all  producers,  and  while  details  as  to  these  wells  are  lacking,  it  does  not 
appear  that  any  certain  limit  has  been  set  in  this  direction.  At  the 
east  end  the  field  has  lately  been  extended  by  the  drilling  of  two  mod- 
erate producers  a  mile  to  the  east  of  former  developments,  and  pros- 
pecting is  still  being  carried  in  this  direction.  On  the  north  limb  two 
deep  failures  have  been  drilled,  while  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the 
developed  area,  which  falls  nearly  on  the  anticlinal  apex,  two  or  three 
wells  have  found  considerable  oil,  but  have  no  production,  leaving  the 
final  value  in  this  direction  open  to  doubt. 

As  in  all  fields  where  the  developments  are  largely  owned  by  a  single 
corporation,  information  as  to  these  wells  was  had  with  great  difficulty, 
and  the  notes  given  below  are  much  less  complete  than  could  be  desired. 
Further,  this  group  has  not  been  visited  by  representatives  of  the 
IMining  Bureau  since  the  early  part  of  1911,  and  the  following  notes 
may  be  considered  as  of  that  date.  Owing  to  the  deliberation  with 
which  developments  take  place  in  this  territory,  however,  it  is  not  prob- 
able that  any  important  changes  have  taken  place  since  that  time,  other 
than  as  mentioned  at  certain  points. 

Union  Oil  Company;  Burton.  The  Burton  well  of  the  Union  Oil 
Company  was  located  near  the  eastern  end  of  Rancho  Jesus  Maria,  in 
the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  30,  8-34.  This 
well  was  drilled  in  1905,  and  carried  to  a  depth  slightly  in  excess  of 
4500  feet.  It  passed  through  a  solid  body  of  shale  the  entire  distance, 
finding  much  water  but  no  oil.  It  was  pulled  and  abandoned.  This 
vrell  is  farthest  to  the  west  of  any  in  the  Lompoc  group  proper. 

Union  Oil  Company;  Nichols.  This  well  is  located  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  29,  8-34,  at  the  northwest  extremity  of  the  group. 
It  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  about  3500  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  found  a 
little  oil,  but  nothing  to  make  a  producer,  and  was  abandoned. 

Sudden  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 
porthwest  quarter,  section  28,  8-34,  a  short  distance  to  the  northeast  of 
the  Nichols  well.  It  was  suspended  at  1700  feet  for  financial  reasons, 
without  any  indications  of  oil,  and  was  finally  pulled  and  abandoned. 

Todos  Santos  Oil  Company.  About  one  mile  east  of  the  Sudden  well, 
on  the  northeast  forty  of  the  same  section,  though  over  the  line  of  the 
Rancho  Todos  Santos,  the  Todos  Santos  Oil  Company  drilled  a  deep 
hole  in  1905.  This  well  was  carried  to  about  4300  feet,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  in  an  unbroken  body  of  blue  shale.  No  indications  of  oil 
were  found,  and  the  well  was  abandoned. 

Barca  Oil  Compani/.     This  company  started  a  well  near  the  south- 


SAXTA    BAEBARA    COUN'TY.  347 

eastern  corner  of  the  Rancho  Todos  Santos,  but  abandoned  it  at  some 
300  feet,  for  fiuaneial  reasons. 

Pacific  Oil  Fields,  Limited.  The  wells  of  this  eompan}-  are  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  28,  and  on  the  west  half  of  fractional 
section  33,  8-34.  Here  there  are  seven  wells,  of  which  No.  2  is  a 
shallow  water  well,  and  No.  7  was  drilling  at  last  reports,  though  prob- 
ably now  completed.  The  depths  of  these  wells,  in  order,  but  excepting 
Nos.  2  and  7,  are  as  follows :  2705  feet,  2828  feet,  2800  feet,  2700  feet, 
and  2700  feet. 

These  wells  pump  on  the  beam,  and  produce  an  oil  containing  a  large 
amount  (up  to  40  per  cent)  of  firmly  emulsified  water.  This  is  handled 
by  the  Cottrell  electric  process,  and  the  oil  brought  do^^^l  to  a  uniform 
content  of  1  per  cent  moisture. 

Orcutt  Oil  Company.  The  first  well  of  this  company  was  located  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter,  section  34,  8-34,  and 
was  drilled  in  1909.  It  was  abandoned  at  some  2900  feet,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  a  practically  dry  hole  at  this  depth. 

The  later  wells  are  all  on  the  southwest  quarter,  southeast  quarter  of 
section  28,  8-34.  Here  there  were  three  wells  producing  and  one  drill- 
ing, when  last  ^^isited,  the  depths  of  these  wells  said  to  range  around 
2.600  feet. 

rnian  Oil  Compayy—Eefson.  The  tract  on  which  the  Eefson  wells 
are  located  includes  an  irregular  shaped  piece  in  the  northwest  corner 
of  Rancho  Mission  de  la  Purissima,  and  the  east  half  of  fractional  sec- 
tion 33,  8-34.  Here  there  are  seven  wells,  numbered  Eefson  No.  1  to 
No.  7,  of  which  all  but  No.  3  are  producers.  There  is  also  an  abandoned 
hole  some  distance  to  the  west  of  the  other  wells,  about  which  nothing 
could  be  learned,  except  that  it  appears  to  be  much  older  than  the  num- 
bered wells. 

"Well  No.  3  was  abandoned  at  a  slight  depth,  a  lost  hole.  The  depth 
of  the  producers  is  said  to  range  from  2600  feet  to  2800  feet,  though 
this  may  be  considered  a  very  rough  approximation. 

Vnion  Oil  Company :  Purissima.  These  wells,  originally  known  as  the 
Wise  &  Denigan  wells,  stretch  in  a  double  or  triple  line  across  the 
greater  part  of  the  width  of  the  Rancho  Purissima,  near  the  northern 
line.  Here  there  are  fourteen  wells,  of  which  all  are  producers  except 
No.  12.  The  depth  of  these  wells  is  said  to  var^-  from  2600  feet  to 
2800  feet,  those  to  the  south  being  the  deeper. 

Both  the  Purissima  and  the  Eefson  wells  make  a  very  wet  oil.  which  is 
strongly  emulsified.  This  oil  is  handled  by  ' '  topping  "  or  ' '  skimming ' ' 
the  water  and  a  small  amount  of  naphtha  being  removed  by  distillation 
at  a  low  temperature,  leaving  a  residue  of  fuel  oil.  In  spite  of  the  low 
gravity  of  these  crudes  (usually  around  16°  Beaume),  they  contain  up 


348  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

to  4  or  5  per  cent  of  bodies  lighter  than  kerosene,  this  making  them 
much  more  adaptable  to  a  distillation  process  than  less  volatile  crudes. 

Union  Oil  Company — Hill.  The  Hill  wells  of  the  Union  Oil  Com- 
pany are  located  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Rancho  Purissima.  Here 
there  are  five  wells,  of  which  either  three  or  four  are  somewhat  pro- 
ductive. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  by  Fox  &  O'Boy,  of  Lompoc,  to  a  depth  of 
about  2500  feet,  and  was  a  fair  producer. 

Well  No.  2  was  known  locally  as  "Big  Moses."  It  was  drilled  to  a 
depth  of  3850  feet,  and  looked  like  a  very  large  producer,  having,  it  is 
said,  almost  1100  feet  of  clean  producing  sand.  This  well  was  drowned 
out  by  upper  water,  and  was  not  producing  when  last  visited.  Well 
No.  3  was  drilled  to  a  depth  of  3300  feet  or  over,  and  abandoned  as  a 
dry  hole,  having  only  traces  of  heavy  tar.  Nothing  is  known  as  to 
Nos.  4  and  5,  though  they  appear  to  be  making  some  oil. 

Graciosa  Oil  Company.  In  addition  to  a  number  of  wells  in  the  Old 
Field,  this  company  has  two  wells  near  the  southern  end  of  the  Harris 
tract,  No.  18  being  some  three  fourths  mile  north  of  the  south  line,  and 
one  fourth  mile  from  the  east  line,  while  No.  20  is  near  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  tract. 

No.  18  is  reported  as  a  deep  hole,  and  abandoned,  though  no  details 
are  known.  No.  20  was  still  drilling  in  January,  1912,  the  depth  at 
that  time  being  approximately  3600  feet. 

Los  Alamos  Oil  and  Development  Company — Esperanza  Consolidated 
Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  started  by  the  Los  Alamos  Oil  and 
Development  Company,  but  now  owned  by  the  Esperanza  Consolidated 
Oil  Company,  are  on  the  south  line  of  Rancho  Lompoc,  and  close  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  section  5,  7-33.  Well  No.  2  is  on  almost  the  highest 
point  of  the  ridge,  and  is  visible  from  a  long  distance,  either  north  or 
south. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1904,  and  reached  a  depth  of  2150  feet.  It 
had  a  great  deal  of  casing  trouble,  and  was  finally  abandoned  as  pointed. 

Well  No.  2  was  started  shortly  thereafter,  and  has  been  worked  on  at 
intervals  ever  since.  This  well  was  carried  to  a  depth  in  excess  of 
4400  feet,  and  started  off  as  a  flowing  well  of  large  capacity.  Because 
of  lack  of  tankage  it  was  shut  down  for  some  time,  and  when  again 
opened  failed  to  flow,  a  phenomenon  which  has  been  noted  in  the  case 
of  several  wells  in  this  county,  and  which  has  never  been  entirely 
explained.  In  working  with  the  well  a  600-foot  string  of  four-inch  pipe 
was  lost,  and  when  last  reported  the  well  was  pumping  some  40  barrels 
daily  of  a  34°  greenish-brown  oil,  from  the  3700-foot  level. 

Federal  Oil  Company— Esperanza  Consolidated  Oil  Company.  The 
well  started  by  the  Federal  Oil  Company  has  also  passed  into  the  hands 


SAVrA    BAllHATJA    COUNTY.  349 

of  the  latter  company.  This  hole  is  located  on  the  south  line  of  Rancho 
Lompoc,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
4,  7-33.  In  November,  1910,  it  was  drilling  at  a  depth  of  some  3000 
feet. 

Union  Oil  Company — Haslam.  The  Union  Oil  Company's  Haslam 
well  was  located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  5,  7-33.  This  well 
was  carried  to  a  depth  of  some  2600  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  had 
encouraging  traces  of  oil,  but  got  into  trouble  with  both  tools  and 
casing,  and  was  abandoned. 

Dome  Oil  Company — Gem  Oil  Company.  The  Bullock  lease  of  the 
Gem  Oil  Company,  a  triangular  piece  in  the  western  part  of  fractional 
sections  6  and  7,  7-33,  is  now  owned  and  operated  by  the  Dome  Oil 
Company,  which  also  operates  in  the  Old  Field,  Cat  Canon  and  else- 
where. 

The  first  well  on  this  property  was  drilled  by  the  Gem  Company,  and 
Avas  finished  in  1910.  This  was  a  rather  small  producer  of  an  oil  of 
16°  Beaume,  at  a  depth  of  2735  feet.  Since  that  time  Well  No.  2  has 
been  finished,  also  a  producer,  and  No.  3  is  now  drilling  (May,  1912). 

Lompoc  Oil  Developing  Company.  The  first  three  wells  of  this  com- 
pany were  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  8,  7-33,  and  near  the 
north  line  of  the  section.  Well  No.  4  is  over  a  mile  to  the  east,  on  the 
northeast  forty  acres  of  section  9^  7-33. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  the  year  1902,  and  at  a  depth  of  1000  feet 
was  wrecked  by  a  slight  local  earthquake,  and  abandoned. 

Well  No.  2  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1200  feet,  in  the  succeeding  year, 
but  was  abandoned  because  of  the  loss  of  a  string  of  tools. 

Well  No.  3,  now  known  as  No.  1,  was  finished  in  the  year  1905,  at  a 
depth  of  3883  feet.  It  is  stated  to  have  had  519  feet  of  clean  produc- 
tive sand,  and  appeared  to  be  a  good  well.  The  water  from  above, 
however,  had  never  been  properly  shut  off,  and  after  a  short  period  of 
operation  the  well  was  drowned,  and  for  a  long  time  stood  idle,  though 
cased  and  rigged.  When  last  visited,  preparations  w^ere  being  made  to 
resume  the  attempt  to  shut  out  water. 

AVell  No.  4  had  reached  a  depth  of  4070  feet  when  last  visited,  and 
had  passed  a  strong  seepage  at  some  3600  feet. 

Furissima  Hills  Oil  Company.  The  two  w^ells  of  this  company  are  on 
the  west  half  of  the  west  half  of  section  15,  7-33,  No.  1  being  about  one 
fourth  mile  north  of  No.  2. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1910,  and  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  about 
3800  feet.  This  well  was  plugged  and  abandoned,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  entirely  barren.     Well  No.  2  was  drilling  at  last  reports. 

Anglo-Calif ornian  Oil  Syndicate.  The  wells  of  this  company  are  far 
to  the  west  of  the  main  Lompoc  group,  being  about  three  miles  east  of 


350  PETROLEUM    IK    SOUTHERN"    CALIFORNIA. 

the  ocean,  and  two  miles  north  of  the  Santa  Ynez  River,  on  Raueho 
Jesus  Maria.  The  wells  are  on  the  northern  face  of  a  small  detached 
ridge  which  parallels  the  river,  and  the  range  in  which  the  Lompoc  wells 
are  situated.  At  last  reports  both  of  these  wells  were  drilling.  No.  1 
being  then  3535  feet,  and  No.  2  about  2100  feet  deep. 

Drilling  Conditions  and  Production.  This  completes  the  list  of 
developments  in  the  Purissima  territory.  It  will  be  noted  that  from  the 
center  of  the  group  westward  there  are  but  two  or  three  lost  holes,  and 
it  is  quite  certain  that  operation  here  is  reasonably  simple,  wells  being 
drilled  with  a  standard  rig  through  a  fairly  consistent  shale  and  sand 
formation,  with  no  more  than  the  normal  amount  of  water. 

At  the  east  end  conditions  are  more  difficult.  There  is  much  water, 
holes  are  very  deep,  and  the  ground  does  not  stand  up  so  well,  so  that 
several  holes  have  been  lost  through  mechanical  troubles.  This  condi- 
tion has  hindered  the  proving  out  of  the  territory,  and  in  spite  of  excel- 
lent showings  of  light  oil  in  several  wells,  and  a  very  fair  steady  produc- 
tion from  the  Dome's  heavy  oil  wells,  the  value  of  this  end  of  the  field 
is  still  to  be  demonstrated. 

While  the  strip  is  apparently  nowhere  very  wide,  it  appears  to  be 
unbroken  from  the  Pacific  wells  at  the  west  up  to  the  east  end  of  the 
Purissima  group,  but  farther  east  there  is  considerable  local  disturbance 
of  the  formation,  and  the  Hill  wells  do  not  nearly  average  up  with  the 
wells  farther  west. 

The  production  figures  for  the  Lompoc  wells  have  never  been  sepa- 
rated from  those  of  Santa  Maria,  and  it  is  therefore  difficult  to  deter- 
mine what  the  average  output  of  these  wells  has  been  at  any  time. 
Estimates  on  the  production  of  these  wells  during  the  year  1911  range 
from  505,000  to  795,000  barrels,  which,  allowing  thirty-four  producers, 
would  indicate  from  40  barrels  to  64  barrels  per  well  per  day.  In  the 
writer's  opinion,  the  former  figure  is  nearer  the  truth,  but  in  either  case 
the  average  output  is  very  much  below  the  estimates  made  on  these  wells 
when  they  were  new.  It  is  highly  probable  that  the  advent  of  water 
into  the  oil  sands  (this  did  not  make  its  appearance  until  some  time 
after  the  first  work  was  done),  depreciated  the  production  considerably, 
and  allowance  must  also  be  made  for  the  fact  that  these  wells  are  now 
from  four  to  six  years  old,  in  the  main,  but  even  with  these  allowances 
it  would  appear  that  the  original  estimates  of  several  hundred  barrels 
daily  per  well  were  based  rather  on  production  before  the  head  had 
been  pumped  off  than  on  settled  output.  But  on  the  other  hand,  this 
output  is  had  from  comparatively  shallow  holes,  under  reasonably  easy 
operating  conditions,  and  even  at  the  lower  daily  figure,  should  compare 
favorably  in  net  results  with  those  of  most  of  the  better  known  fields. 


SANTA  BAEBAEA  COUNTY. 


351 


7405.* 
Union  Oil  Company.     Hill  No.   1. 

Gravity 16.2^  Beaume 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 8.23  Redwood 

Flash  point 70°  F.  (Abel-Pensky  test) 

Sulfur 4.43  per  cent  by  weight  (doubtful) 

Thermal  value 18,464  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  glass,  without  the  use  of  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°  F 1.3  per  cent 

212  to  302° 3.9  per  cent  51.0°  Beaume 

302  to  392° 5.5  per  cent  47.1° 

392  to  482° 7.7  per  cent  38.3° 

482  to  572° 18.3  per  cent  32.5° 

572°  to  grade 34.3  per  cent  25.7° 

Asphalt    20.6  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Water   (7.0)   and  loss   (1.4) 8.4  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  1.4  per  cent  (about) 

Engine  distillate 52°  3.2  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  15.4  per  cent 

Stove  oil   33°  18.3  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 25.7°  38.1  per  cent 

Asphalt   "D"  22.1  per  cent 

Loss : 1.5  per  cent 


"Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


100.0  per  cent 


352  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

SANTA  MARIA,  OR  "OLD  FIELD." 

The  Santa  Maria  field,  while  limited  in  area,  has  been  one  of  the  most 
profitable  to  its  operators  of  any  in  the  State,  and  the  impetus  given  to 
prospecting  by  the  successful  operations  here  have  been  an  important 
factor  in  the  development  of  the  local  oil  industry. 
Topography. 

This  field  covers  the  western  end  and  both  faces  of  a  ridge  rising  to  a 
height  of  some  1300  feet  above  sea  level  and  emerging  into  the  Santa 
Maria  Valley  at  about  the  600-foot  level.  The  northern  face  of  this 
ridge  overlooks  the  Santa  Maria  Valley  and  the  ocean,  the  western  end 
faces  the  Casmalia  hills,  across  a  narrow  valley  draining  to  the  north, 
^vhile  the  southern  face,  less  regular  in  form,  drains  to  the  little  valley 
of  the  Los  Alamos.  This  ridge  is  composed  superficially  of  shale,  .with 
some  sandstone,  and  many  streaks  of  white,  yellow  and  fiery-red  diato- 
maceous  shale,  and  as  it  is  carved  into  shallow  but  rough  canons,  and 
covered  with  a  light  growth  of  scrub  oak,  the  claim  that  it  is  the  most 
picturesque  oil  field  in  the  State  is  probably  justified. 

The  northern  face  of  the  ridge  dips  steeply  to  the  valley,  and  almost 
every  well  on  this  face  is  visible  to  an  observer  at  any  point  in  the  flat 
land.  On  the  southern  side  the  descent  is  much  more  gradual,  and  here 
the  canons  widen  into  little  flat  valleys  in  which  the  wells  are  hidden. 

The  length  of  the  developed  territory,  from  Hartnell  No.  5  on  the 
west,  to  Newlove  No.  23  on  the  east,  is  close  to  three  and  one  quarter 
miles.  Drilling  has  been  carried  some  distance  east  and  west  beyond 
these  limits,  but  without  results  in  the  way  of  production.  The  distance 
from  the  Hall  wells  on  the  north  to  Western  Union  No.  38  on  the  south, 
is  about  two  and  three-fourths  miles.  Within  these  narrow  limits 
almost  every  portion  has  been  found  productive.  Development  still 
continues  to  the  south,  but  in  no  other  direction  is  there  any  apparent 
prospect  for  extension  in  the  near  future. 

Most  of  the  wells  in  this  field  are  at  some  little  elevation  above  sea- 
level,  and  small  pipe  lines  to  the  railroads  and  to  tidewater  operate  by 
gravitation,  the  viscosity  of  the  oil  being  very  low.  Pipe  lines  of  the 
Standard  Oil  Company,  Union  Oil  Company  of  California,  and  Asso- 
ciated Oil  Company  carry  oil,  the  first  two  to  Port  Harford,  the  latter 
to  Gaviota.  The  only  direct  rail  connection  is  by  the  Pacific  Coast 
railroad,  a  narrow-gauge  line  connecting  with  the  Pacific  Coast  Steam- 
ship Company's  vessels,  and  running  from  Los  Olivos,  at  the  upper 
end  of  Los  Alamos  Vallej^,  to  Port  Harford  by  way  of  Santa  Maria  and 
San  Luis  Obispo,  thus  circling  the  southern  and  western  extremities  of 


SANTA   MARIA,    OR   ''OLD   FIELD."  353 

the  field.  The  coast  division  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific  is  distant  in 
a  straight  line  but  four  and  one-half  miles  from  the  nearest  wells,  but 
the  nearest  station  accessible  by  road  is  Casmalia,  at  a  distance  of  eight 
miles.  The  Santa  ]\Iaria  Valley  railroad  leaves  the  Southern  Pacific 
at  Betteravia.  and  passes  through  the  town  of  Santa  ]Maria  to  the  Cat 
Canon,  but  does  not  touch  the  Old  Field. 

There  are  three  retmeries  close  to  the  field  and  using  local  oil,  being 
that  of  the  Union  Oil  Company  at  Port  Harford,  of  the  Pinal  Dome 
Refiining  Company  at  Betteravia,  and  a  small  plant  of  the  Western 
Union  Oil  Company,  located  on  the  lease  and  making  products  for  home 
consumption.  The  Associated  Oil  Company  has  a  plant  of  some  size 
at  Gaviota.  distant  about  thirty  miles  by  pipe  line.  The  extensive 
plant  of  the  California  Petroleum  Refineries.  Ltd.,  located  at  Oilport,  is 
not  at  present  in  operation. 

Santa  Maria,  distant  about  seven  miles  from  the  field,  is  an  active 
little  city  of  some  3500  population,  and  furnishes  a  large  part  of  the  sup- 
plies used  in  the  field,  other  than  casing  and  tools.  Excellent  stores  of 
operating  materials  and  tools  of  all  kinds  are  maintained  at  Orcutt, 
distant  a  little  over  a  mile  from  the  nearest  wells.  Here  there  are  also 
well-equipped  shops  for  handling  large  machine  work  and  forging.  A 
number  of  the  larger  companies  also  maintain  shops  capable  of  doing  all 
their  smaller  work,  and  in  general  the  repair  and  supply  facilities  of  the 
field  are  unusually  good. 

Geology  and  Drilling  Conditions.  The  geolog^-  of  this  field  is  so 
thoroughly  covered  by  reports  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  (see  Bulle- 
tins 317  and  322)  that  but  a  word  as  to  operating  conditions  need  be 
said. 

The  depth  at  which  the  oil  lies  in  this  field  varies  from  2000  to  4000 
feet,  but  most  of  the  wells  draw  from  at.  or  near,  the  3000-foot  level. 
The  upper  layers  are  in  general  a  brownish  shale,  somewhat  sandy, 
with  occasional  thin,  hard  shells,  and  in  some  streaks  scattered  lumps  of 
iron  pyrites.  These  formations  are  practically  dry,  and  stand  up  well, 
so  that  in  spite  of  the  considerable  depths  reached,  wells  are  not 
unusually  expensive,  a  well  of  say  3000  feet  requiring  from  six  months 
to  a  year  in  drilling,  and  costing  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
fully  equipped. 

Some  of  these  wells  produce  from  a  compact  sand,  but  these  are  the 
exception.  The  oil  in  most  of  the  wells  is  found  in  a  shale  hardly  dis- 
tinguishable in  appearance  (after  removal  of  the  oil)  from  the  barren 
layers,  and  being  of  such  density  as  to  entirely  preclude  the  possibility 
of  the  oil  being  drawn  from  the  pores  of  the  shale  itself.  It  therefore 
follows,  and  this  view  is  borne  out  by  the  appearance  of  the  shale  near 
the  surface,  that  this  oil  is  crevice  oil,  and  is  produced  from  joint 

24—63 


354  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

cracks  in  the  shale.  It  follows  again,  that  these  wells  produce  almost 
no  sand,  and  that  the  production  from  such  wells  as  have,  apparently, 
found  extensive  cracks  in  the  shale,  has  been  very  large.  The  initial 
production  of  some  of  the  wells  in  this  field  has  been  very  great,  and 
some  remarkable  vagaries  in  the  behavior  of  adjacent  wells  has  been 
noted,  which  could  hardly  be  explained  in  any  other  manner.  Some  of 
these  instances  will  be  noted  in  connection  with  the  operations  of 
individual  companies. 

During  the  first  five  years  of  its  existence  this  field  produced  a  very 
dry  oil,  but  since  this  time  water  has  intruded  itself  into  the  oil  measures 
to  the  serious  detriment  of  the  operations  of  some  companies.  The 
source  of  this  water  has  not  been  determined  with  certainty  in  all  cases, 
in  spite  of  much  argument  and  considerable  experiment.  In  some 
instances  conditions  have  been  materially  improved  by  cementing  off 
water,  and  by  plugging  certain  abandoned  and  wrecked  holes ;  in 
others,  such  treatment  has  been  a  failure.  Nevertheless  it  is  probably 
true  that  the  water  now  found  in  the  oil  sands  or  shales  of  this  field 
is  leakage  water,  and  this  is  another  instance  of  the  old  truth  that  too 
much  care  can  not  be  exercised  in  the  early  operations  in  any  field,  no 
matter  how  dry  in  appearance,  if  this  disaster  is  to  be  long  avoided. 

Much  gas  is  met  in  most  of  the  wells  in  the  Old  Field,  and  in  the 
earlier  years  the  pressure  was  quite  high,  though  never  what  is  found 
in  the  eastern  gas  fields,  nor  in  the  outer  wells  in  the  San  Joaquin 
Valley.  This  gas  is  very  rich  in  condensible  elements,  so  much  so  that 
during  the  colder  months  of  the  year,  quantities  of  gasoline  and  dis- 
tillate collect  in  the  pipes  and  traps  through  which  the  gas  is  carried. 
Three  compression  plants  for  separating  gasoline  from  this  gas  are  now 
building  or  in  operation,  but  the  industry  is  yet  too  new  to  judge  as  to 
its  financial  possibilities.  AU  the  fuel  required  in  the  field  is  still 
supplied  from  the  wells,  and  the  towns  of  Orcutt,  Santa  Maria  and 
Guadalupe  are  furnished  light  and  heat,  but  the  amount  of  gas  passing 
to  waste,  once  very  large,  is  now  much  reduced,  and  apparently  the 
excess  over  fuel  requirements  will  soon  be  exhausted. 

The  w^ater  supplies  in  the  field  are  strongly  alkaline  and  highly  cor- 
rosive to  boilers.  No  sweet  water  can  be  had  by  drilling,  and  for 
domestic  purposes  only  condensed  water  is  used.  Fairly  sweet  water  is 
found  close  to  the  surface  at  Santa  IMaria  and  Betteravia. 

No  definite  dividing  line  can  be  placed  between  the  Old  Field  and  Cat 
Canon,  for  while  a  considerable  distance  intervenes  between  the  nearest 
producers,  drilling  has  been  carried  across  this  space.  For  the  purposes 
of  this  report,  therefore,  a  line  is  arbitrarily  drawn  dowai  the  center 
of  sections  15  and  16,  9-33,  this  line  corresponding  with  the  eastern 
boundary  of  the  Las  Flores  tract.  The  southern  limit  taken  covers  all 
the  northerly  wells  of  the  Graciosa  and  Western  Union  companies,  the 


SANTA   MARIA,   OR   '^'OLD   FIELD.''  355 

later  wells  along  the  south  line  of  these  tracts  being  considered  as 
belonging  to  the  Lompoc  group.  On  account  of  the  close  grouping  of 
the  operators  in  this  field  a  geographical  arrangement  is  unnecessary, 
and  the  various  companies  will  therefore  be  named  in  alphabetical  order. 

Broohshire  Oil  Companu.  This  company  operates  a  tract  of  very 
irregular  shape  in  sections  13,  14  and  29,  9-34,  the  wells,  however,  with 
the  exception  of  No.  1.  which  is  a  water  well,  being  on  the  south  forty 
acres  in  section  23.  On  this  tract  it  has  nine  wells,  of  which  one  is 
a  shallow  water  well,  two  are  pumping,  three  have  some  oil  but  are  not 
pumping,  one  is  flowing,  one  is  being  deepened,  and  one  is  abandoned. 
The  records  of  these  wells  are  of  interest  because  of  the  unusual  varia- 
tions in  the  value  of  closely  adjacent  wells,  and  are  therefore  given 
in  full. 

"Well  No.  1.  drilled  in  1903,  struck  water  at  about  500  feet,  and  was 
finished  at  748  feet.  Since  that  time  it  has  supplied  a  fair  portion  of 
the  western  end  of  the  field  with  boiler  water. 

.  "Well  No.  2,  and  all  later  wells,  are  located  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  23.  This  well  is  3054  feet  deep,  and 
is  said  to  have  had  an  initial  production  of  228  barrels  per  day.  It  is 
reported  to  have  made  a  great  deal  of  water,  but  is  still  on  the  pumping 
list. 

WeU  No.  3  was  drilled  in  1904  to  a  depth  of  3265  feet.  This  weU 
also  produced  considerable  water,  and  when  last  visited  was  being 
cemented  at  the  bottom. 

Well  No.  4  is  a  fair  producer  at  a  depth  of  2842  feet,  and  was  drilled 
in  1095.  This  is  said  to  have  been  a  dry  well,  so  far  as  water  is  con- 
cerned, but  was  never  a  heavy  producer. 

Well  No.  5  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  and  is  2795  feet  deep.  In 
connection  with  the  depths  of  these  wells,  it  should  be  said  that  the 
surface  elevation  differs  so  little  as  to  be  negligible.  No.  5,  though 
somewhat  shallower  than  No.  4,  and  located  between  this  w^ell  and  No.  7, 
which  was  a  dry  hole  at  a  much  greater  depth,  was  a  very  large  and 
steady  flowing  well,  producing  some  five  thousand  barrels  per  day  of 
light  oil  for  many  months,  and  is  even  yet  a  very  substantial  producer. 

Well  No.  6  was  driUed  in  1906  to  a  depth  of  2920  feet,  and  is  said  to 
to  have  been  a  very  small  producer.  It  was  not  being  operated  when 
last  visited. 

Well  No.  7  was  drilled  in  1909  to  a  depth  of  4130  feet,  and  aban- 
doned. This  well  is  said  to  have  been  an  absolutely  dry  hole,  which,  if 
true,  is  remarkable,  this  well  being  situated  between  No.  5  and  No.  8, 
the  former  a  flowing  well,  while  the  latter,  if  not  a  large  producer,  at 
least  had  some  oil. 

Well  No.  8  was  drilled  in  1909  to  a  depth  of  3772  feet,  and  made  a 
small  producer.     When  last  seen  it  was  being  deepened. 


356  PETROLEUM    I^"    SOUTHERN    CALIFORXIA. 

Well  No.  9,  which  is  in  almost  the  exact  center  of  the  forty  and  of 
the  group  of  wells,  was  drilled  in  1909  to  a  depth  of  3746  feet.  It  is 
reported  that  this  well  was  only  a  small  producer,  and  it  was  being 
deepened  when  last  visited. 

The  larger  portion  of  the  output  of  oil  from  this  lease  still  comes 
from  No.  5  well.  The  gravity  of  the  oil  ranges  from  22°  to  25°  Beaume. 
This  company  is  also  operating  territory  in  the  North  Midway  district, 
where  they  have  production. 

Central  Union  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  a  shallow  hole 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  13,  9-34,  during  the  earlier  years  of 
the  development  of  this  field.  The  hole  is  said  to  have  been  abandoned 
at  a  depth  of  350  feet,  in  shifting  sand. 

California  Coast  Oil  Company ;  Drumm.  In  the  year  1904  this  com- 
pany drilled  a  shallow  hole  on  the  Drumm  tract,  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  13,  9-34.  This  well  was  abandoned  in  running  sand,  after 
striking  water  at  about  1000  feet,  as  at  that  date  means  for  handling 
the  quicksands  found  in  this  portion  of  the  field  had  not  yet  been 
invented. 

The  same  company  afterward  drilled  eight  wells  on  the  southern 
portion  of  the  Hartnell  tract,  which  will  be  found  under  the  heading 
Union  Oil  Company — California  Coast. 

Cohlentz  Oil  Company.  The  first  hole  of  this  company  was  drilled 
in  the  year  1905,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  19,  9-33.  This  well  was  pointed  at  2300  feet,  and  abandoned. 
The  second  well  is  a  short  distance  to  the  southwest  of  No.  1,  and  at  last 
reports  was  drilling  at  3100  feet. 

Dome  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  twelve  wells,  all  producing, 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  29,  9-34, 
and  on  a  strip  following  the  north  line  of  the  Newlove  Ranch  to  the 
south  line  of  the  same  section. 

The  depths  of  these  wells  ranges  from  2482  to  2900  feet.  All 
are  on  the  beam,  but  nothing  is  known  as  to  the  behavior  of  individual 
Avells.  A  single  well.  No.  12,  has  lately  been  deepened  to  something  over 
3100  feet,  finding  a  new  sand  about  150  feet  below  any  stratum  pre- 
viously known.  It  is  said  that  the  production  of  this  well  was  greatly 
increased,  and  that  the  lower  sand  gave  a  lighter  oil,  some  30°  Beaume. 

Treasure  Realty  Company — Hall  <&  Hall  Oil  Company.  The  north- 
west forty  acres  of  section  19,  9-33,  formerly  operated  \y  the  Hall  & 
Hall  Oil  Company  of  Santa  Maria,  is  now  held  by  the  Treasure  Realty 
Company  of  Los  Angeles.  On  this  tract  there  are  three  producing 
wells,  all  of  which  were  drilled  about  the  year  1905. 

Well  No.  1  is  2615  feet  deep.  No.  2  is  2910  feet,  and  No.  3  is  3225  feet 
deep.     The  larger  part  of  the  verj^  small  production  comes  from  AVell 


SANTA   MARIA,    OR   ''OLD   FIELD."  357 

No.  3.  It  is  said  that  the  production  of  this  lease  was  formerly  much 
larger  than  at  present,  and  that  the  gravity  of  the  oil  is  also  consider- 
ably depreciated,  being  now  in  the  neighborhood  of  22°  Beaume, 
whereas  it  was  almost  26°  when  the  wells  were  new. 

The  product  of  these  wells  is  handled  through  a  small  refiner^'  on 
the  lease,  which  makes  gasoline  and  fuel  oil  for  local  consumption.  The 
wells  also  make  considerable  gas,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  current 
year  a  compressor  plant  was  being  installed  to  remove  the  condensible 
gasoline  from  this  gas.  and  that  of  a  neighboring  lease. 

Laguna  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  on  the  southwest 
forty  acres  of  section  18,  9-33,  and  was  drilled  in  the  year  1909  to  a 
depth  of  3800  feet.  This  well  was  entirel}^  barren,  and  was  abandoned 
when  finished. 

Meridian  Oil  Company.  This  well  is  on  the  same  forty-acre  tract, 
but  somewhat  to  the  west  of  the  Laguna  well.  It  Avas  abandoned  at  700 
feet  as  a  spoiled  hole,  in  the  year  1904. 

Lucerne  Oil  Company.  The  abandoned  well  of  this  company  is 
located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northw^est  quarter,  section  19, 
9-33.     It  was  drilled  in  1909  to  a  depth  of  3938  feet,  and  was  a  dry  hole. 

Xew  Pennsylvania  Petroleum  Company;  Wiley.  The  single  hole  on 
this  tract  was  drilled  in  the  year  1905.  and  was  abandoned  at  about  300 
feet,  because  of  shifting  sand. 

Xeiv  Pennsylvania  Petroleum  Company:  Kaiser.  This  tract  includes 
portions  of  three  forties  along  the  north  line  of  the  Newlove  Ranch,  in 
section  19,  9-33.  On  this  tract  there  are  six  wells,  all  producing.  No.  1 
is  a  small  producer  at  3310  feet,  as  it  went  into  bottom  water,  and  a 
portion  of  the  producing  sand  was  cased  off.  Nos.  2  to  5  range  in 
depth  from  2700  feet  to  3250  feet,  and  are  average  pumping  wells. 
No.  6  is  the  farthest  well  to  the  east,  and  started  off,  some  five  years  ago, 
as  a  1000-barrel  flowing  well.  In  January,  1912,  this  well  was  still 
flowing  steadily,  and  had  never  made  less  than  300  barrels  per  day,  the 
decline  having  been  quite  even  over  this  long  period.  This  well  made 
no  sand,  and  less  water  than  most  of  the  wells  in  the  immediate  vicinity, 
and  considering  its  location  at  the  extreme  edge  of  the  field,  has  been  a 
phenomenal  producer.  This  is  evidently  a  crevice  well,  of  which  there 
were  several  instances  in  this  field. 

Pinal  Oil  Company.  This  company  o\atis  a  large  tract  of  very  irregu- 
lar shape,  in  sections  23  and  24,  9-34.  Scattered  over  the  southern 
portion  of  this  tract  are  twenty-seven  producing  wells,  and  one  (No.  18), 
Avhich  has  been  suspended  for  a  long  time,  but  never  abandoned,  having 
met  mechanical  troubles  w^hich  there  are  hopes  of  correcting.  AVell 
No.  16  was  deepened  in  1909  to  something  over  4000  feet,  but  apparently 
the  hopes  of  finding  productive  lower  sands  in  this  portion  of  the  field 


358  PETROLEUM   IN   SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

were  not  realized,  as  none  of  the  other  wells  have  been  so  treated.  With 
this  exception,  the  depth  of  these  wells  ranges  from  a  minimum  of  2477 
feet  to  a  maximum  of  3530  feet,  and  averages  very  close  to  3000  feet. 

Very  little  trouble  is  found  in  producing  these  wells,  other  than  the 
cutting  of  valves,  which  appears  to  be  inseparable  from  the  pumping  of 
light  oil  from  deep  Avells.  These  wells  are  all  handled  on  the  beam, 
with  rods,  and  by  means  of  steam  engines.  Wire-line  pumping  was 
tried,  but  was  not  found  entirely  satisfactory,  differing  in  this  from  the 
experience  of  a  company  on  the  south  side,  where  several  deeper  wells 
have  been  pumped  in  this  manner  with  the  best  results. 

Like  all  the  wells  in  the  Old  Field,  these  wells  produce  a  rather  wet 
oil,  the  water  being  firmly  emulsified  and  not  susceptible  to  settling. 
The  larger  part  of  this  and  the  Dome  production  goes  to  the  Pinal-Dome 
refinery,  at  Betteravia,  where  it  is  topped  in  steam  stills,  leaving  a 
residue  of  dried  fuel  oil.  The  percentage  of  mineral  matter  in  these 
oils  is  very  slight. 

Rice  Ranch  Oil  Company.  The  wells  of  this  company  are  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  19,  9-33.  Here 
there  are  nine  wells,  all  producers,  drilling  having  been  carried  on  at 
intervals  from  1905  to  the  current  year. 

Wells  numbered  1  to  6  were  finished  in  the  upper  sands,  and  range 
in  depth  from  2600  to  2857  feet.  Nos.  7,  8  and  9  have  lately  been  car- 
ried down  to  the  lower  sand  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Dome 
wells,  and  are  said  to  have  a  much  larger  production  than  the  older 
wells,  and  a  lighter  oil.  Well  No.  9  flowed  for  a  time  when  first  brought 
in,^  but  soon  settled  down  to  a  pumping  basis. 

Santa  Barbara  Oil  &  Mining  Company.  This  company,  which  for- 
merly operated  a  number  of  shallow  producers  at  Summerland,  drilled 
a  well  near  the  center  of  the  south  line  of  section  14,  9-34.  This  well 
was  abandoned  at  a  depth  of  600  feet,  because  of  shifting  sand.    • 

Santa  Maria  Central  Oil  Company.  This  company  dug  a  316-foot 
shaft  on  their  property,  the  northwest  quarter,  southeast  quarter,  section 
13,  9-34,  but  did  no  further  development  work. 

Santa  Maria  Crude  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  in 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter,  section  18,  9-33.  It  was 
abandoned  at  a  depth  of  1600  feet,  because  of  shifting  sand. 

Radium  Oil  Company.  The  property  operated  by  this  company  is 
the  south  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  23,  9-34.  Here  there 
are  three  wells,  on  which  operations  have  continued  steadily  since  the 
year  1904. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  to  a  depth  of  about  3900  feet,  and  got  a  very 
small  production  at  the  bottom  of  the  hole.  The  amount  of  oil  found 
was  hardly  enough  to  furnish  fuel  for  later  drilling  operations. 


SANTA   MARIA,   OR   ''OLD  FIELD.''  359 

Well  No.  2  was  abandoned  at  a  depth  of  800  feet,  a  spoiled  hole. 

Well  No.  3  was  considered  completed  at  a  depth  of  3500  feet,  at  the 
beginning  of  1912,  but  before  it  was  tested,  the  casing  collapsed  some 
700  feet  off  bottom.  This  portion  of  the  hole  is  now  being  redrilled,  the 
easing  ha\ing  parted  in  swaging. 

Oro  ^Vater,  Light  &  Power  Company.  This  well  is  the  farthest  pros- 
pect to  the  east  in  the  Old  Field,  and  is  about  midway  between  the  New 
Penn  wells,  and  the  Ideal  wells  in  Cat  Caiion.  It  was  drilled  in  1909 
to  a  depth  of  2600  feet,  and  got  considerable  water,  with  some  gas  and 
a  very  fair  showing  of  oil,  but  went  out  of  this  into  salt  water,  and  was 
abandoned. 

Associated  Oil  Company — Lucas.  The  Lucas  well  of  this  company 
was  located  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  15,  9-34.  It  was  aban- 
doned at  750  feet,  in  quicksand  with  much  water. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California.  This  company'  owns  and  operates 
eight  tracts  in  the  Old  Field,  these  being  the  Kaiser,  Fox,  Hobbs  and 
Folsom  on  the  north  side  of  the  ridge,  the  California  Coast,  Santa  ]\Iaria 
Oil  &  Gas  and  Hartnell  on  the  west  end,  and  the  Newlove  on  the  south 
side  and  apex  of  the  ridge.  They  also  drilled  on  the  Arrellanes  tract, 
west  of  the  railroad,  but  got  no  production. 

This  company  gives  out  no  information  regarding  its  properties,  and 
the  notes  below  regarding  these  tracts  are  necessarily  scattering.  It 
may  be  said,  however,  that  conditions  on  these  leases  are  in  all  respects 
similar  to  those  on  ad.joining  properties. 

Union  Oil  Company — Kaiser.  This  is  an  irregular  shaped  tract  of 
100  acres  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  19,  9-33.  On  this  there 
are  five  wells,  all  producing  on  the  beam.  The  output  of  the  two  more 
northerly  wells  is  small,  that  of  the  other  three  about  the  average  for 
the  field. 

Union  Oil  Company — Hohhs.  The  Hobbs  tract  occupies  the  larger 
part  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  24,  9-34,  with  a  strip  of  some 
twenty  acres  extending  into  the  southeast  quarter.  Here  there  are  ten 
wells,  of  which  all  but  one.  No.  10,  are  productive.  The  output  of  the 
more  northerly  wells  is  small,  and  only  the  southern  half  of  the  tract 
is  considered  producing  ground.  Well  No.  10  was  drilled  in  1909  to  a 
depth  of  about  4200  feet,  and  found  traces  of  oil  but  no  production.  It 
is  pulled  and  abandoned. 

Union  Oil  Company — Fox.  The  Fox  tract  lies  just  west  of  the 
Hobbs,  in  the  same  section.  Here  there  are  eight  wells,  of  which  all 
but  Nos.  6  and  7  are  productive.  These  are  on  the  north  line  of  devel- 
opments, and  were  practically  dry  holes.  No.  6  had  only  traces  of  tar 
at  3200  feet.  No.  7  is  said  to  have  been  abandoned  at  some  700  feet. 


360  TETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Union  Oil  Company — Folsom.  This  tract  occupies  fractional  sec- 
tion 25,  9-34,  lying  between  the  Pinal  property  and  the  Newlove  ranch. 
On  this  tract  there  are  seven  wells,  all  productive.  One  of  these  wells 
was  originally  a  flowing  well  of  large  capacity,  and  though  it  has  now 
been  producing  for  some  six  j^ears  continues  to  flow,  though  at  a  much 
diminished  rate. 

Union  Oil  Company — Eartnell.  The  developed  portion  of  the  Hart- 
nell  tract  lies  in  the  southwest  quarter,  section  23,  and  in  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  22,  9-34.  Here  there  are  six  wells,  of  which  five  are 
producers,  while  No.  3  was  a  lost  hole  at  a  slight  depth.  These  holes  are 
much  deeper  than  the  wells  in  the  body  of  the  field,  as  much  as  3600 
feet  in  some  cases. 

Hartnell  No.  1  was,  when  finished,  the  largest  flowing  well  brought 
in,  up  to  that  time,  in  the  State.  It  had  an  initial  output  of  about 
twelve  thousand  barrels  per  day,  and  after  nine  months  was  still  doing 
three  thousand  barrels  daily.  The  production  of  the  first  twenty 
months  was  upwards  of  two  million  barrels,  the  greater  part  of  which 
was  saved,  and  considering  the  quality  of  the  oil  and  the  small  supply  of 
such  oil  on  the  market  at  that  time,  this  was  probebly  one  of  the  most 
profitable  wells  ever  drilled. 

Union  Oil  Company — Santa  Maria  Oil  &  Gas  Companij — Squires 
Tract.  The  area  originally  known  as  the  Squires  tract,  and  owned  by 
the  Santa  Maria  Oil  &  Gas  Company,  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Union  Oil  Company  after  four  or  five  wells  had  been  drilled.  There 
are  now  on  this  property  fourteen  wells,  all  believed  to  be  productive. 
Well  No.  1  was  some  2550  feet  deep,  while  later  wells  are  believed  to 
average  much  deeper  than  this.  Some  of  these  wells  were  originally 
large  producers,  but  are  now  greatly  depreciated. 

Union  Oil  Company — California  Coast  Oil  Company.  The  triangu- 
lar piece  south  of  the  Santa  Maria  Oil  &  Gas  tract,  and  west  of  the 
Newlove  ranch,  is  owned  by  the  California  Coast  Oil  Company,  which 
is  said  to  be  the  joint  property  of  the  Union  Oil  Company  and  the 
Associated  Oil  Company.  On  this  tract  there  are  eight  wells,  operated 
by  the  Union  Oil  Company,  and  all  producing.  Well  No.  1  was 
finished  at  3300  feet,  but  the  depths  of  later  wells  are  not  known,  though 
they  are  supposed  to  average  somewhat  greater  than  this. 

Union  Oil  Company — Newlove  Oil  Company.  The  Newlove  ranch, 
occupying  the  center  of  the  Old  Field,  is  owned  by  the  Newlove  Oil 
Company,  in  which  the  Union  Oil  Company  is  said  to  own  a  controlling 
interest.  Here  there  are  forty  wells,  mainly  along  the  north  and  south 
bounds  of  the  property,  of  which  two  are  drilling  (January,  1912), 
while  the  remainder  are  all  believed  to  be  productive.     These  wells 


SAXTA   MARIA,    OR   *'OLD   FIELD."  361 

occupy  the  crest  of  the  anticliue  and  a  portion  of  the  south  limb,  and 
average  somewhat  shallower  than  most  of  the  wells  to  the  north. 

^lost  of  these  wells  have  been  drilled  within  the  last  four  years,  and 
as  they  are  widely  scattered  they  have  been  more  than  usually  produc- 
tive, many  initial  productions  of  four,  five  and  six  hundred  barrels 
daily  having  been  noted.  Well  No.  15,  finished  in  the  latter  part  of 
1908  at  a  depth  of  2750  feet,  is  said  to  have  started  off  at  a  daily  rate 
of  2400  barrels,  and  to  have  held  up  to  250  barrels  daily  so  long  as 
September  of  the  following  year.  The  wells  deepened  rapidly  toward 
the  east,  along  the  north  line  of  the  ranch.  Xo.  22  having  been  finished 
at  3300  feet,  and  No.  24,  the  farthest  to  the  east,  at  over  3600  feet.  The 
iormer  started  off  at  600  barrels  per  day. 

The  last  wells  drilled  were  immediately  on  the  south  line,  and  just 
north  of  Western  Union  property.  No.  38.  at  a  depth  of  2700  feet, 
Avas  said  to  be  doing  1200  barrels  per  day  of  27°  Beaume  oil,  in 
January  of  this  year.  As  a  whole,  the  production  of  these  wells  has 
fallen  off  very  greatly,  more  rapidly  indeed  than  that  of  the  weUs 
farthest  to  the  west.  In  particular  those  along  the  west  end  of  the 
south  line  appear  to  be  making  very  little,  as  compared  to  their  earlier 
output. 

Befining  dC'  Producing  Oil  Company — Graciosa  Oil  Company.  The 
property  now  held  by  the  former  company  was  owned  and  operated  for 
several  years  by  the  Graciosa  Oil  Company  of  San  Francisco.  This 
tract  is  south  of  the  Newlove  ranch,  and  to  the  west  of  the  Western 
Union  property. 

In  the  northeastern  portion  of  this  tract  there  are  eighteen  wells,  as 
well  as  two  along  the  south  line  of  the  tract  (for  the  latter,  see  Graciosa 
Oil  Company,  Lompoc  group).  Of  the  eighteen  wells  first  mentioned, 
four  were  abandoned  when  drilled,  while  the  balance  were  originally 
very  heavy  producers,  though  now  much  depreciated,  so  much  so, 
indeed,  that  several  of  the  wells  are  practically  inoperative. 

No.  16,  in  the  west  end  of  the  group,  was  a  lost  hole  at  a  comparatively 
slight  depth,  but  No.  17.  the  farthest  to  the  west,  was  carried  to  a  depth 
of  3786  feet,  and  abandoned  as  unprofitable.  No.  12,  toward  the  center 
of  the  group,  was  a  lost  hole  at  700  feet.  No.  19,  about  one  half  mile 
to  the  south  of  the  main  group,  and  near  the  east  line,  was  abandoned  as 
a  dry  hole  at  something  over  4600  feet. 

The  other  wells  of  this  group  were  producers,  at  depths  ranging  from 
a  minimum  of  2950  feet  to  a  maximum  of  3275  feet.  When  first 
brought  in,  these  wells  were  exceptionally  hesLxy  producers,  several 
being  flowing  Avells  making  up  into  the  thousands  of  barrels  daily.  The 
cutput  for  these  oils  being  limited  at  this  time,  the  wells  were  shut  in 
until  market  arrangements  could  be  made,  but  when  the  wells  were 


362  PETROLEUM    IX    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

opened  up  they  not  only  would  not  flow,  but  made  very  little  oil  on  the 
pump.  It  was  afterward  determined  that  water  had  intruded  itself 
into  the  oil  strata  (the  term  sands  is  not  applicable  in  this  area),  and 
though  long  continued  attempts  were  made  to  find  the  source  of  this 
water,  and  shut  it  out  of  these  wells,  and  the  northwesterly  wells  on  the 
Western  Union,  but  indifferent  success  was  had.  Such  oil  as  is  now 
being  produced  from  most  of  these  wells  is  badly  emulsified,  and  the 
output  is  small. 

Western  Union  Oil  Company.  This  company  owns  the  entire  Car- 
reaga  tract,  lying  east  of  the  Graciosa  Oil  Company's  propert}^  and 
south  of  the  Newlove  ranch,  but  developments  are  confined  to  a  strip 
about  one  half  mile  wide  across  the  northern  end,  and  of  this  only  the 
west  two  thirds  is  productive. 

Underground  conditions  over  this  area  are  complicated  by  important 
local  flexures,  probably  accompanied  by  more  or  less  faulting,  and  both 
the  depth  and  productiveness  of  wells  varies  considerably  within  short 
distances.  In  this  respect  this  area  differs  from  the  larger  part  of  the 
Santa  Maria  field,  where  very  uniform  structural  conditions  are  the 
rule. 

Well  No.  2  of  the  Western  Union  Oil  Company  was  the  first  produc- 
tive well  in  the  Santa  Maria  field,  excepting  the  little  wells  at  Summer- 
land,  in  the  count}'.  Well  No.  1  was  a  spoiled  hole,  but  No.  2  was 
finished  into  the  first  sand  (this  term  as  used  in  connection  with  Santa 
Maria  wells  will  be  understood  to  mean  a  fissured  and  more  or  less 
sandy  shale,  true  sands  being  the  rare  exception)  at  a  depth  of  2150 
feet.  This  well  got  a  small  production  of  a  heavy  oil,  about  17° 
Beaume,  but  was  abandoned  as  unprofitable  shortly  after  being  finished, 
in  the  year  1901. 

The  wells  lying  between  No.  2  and  the  northwest  corner  of  the  prop- 
erty all  found  two  sands,  but  in  most  of  these  the  upper  is  slightly  or 
not  at  all  productive.  The  lower  sand  lies  roughly  3000  feet  below  the 
surface,  the  depth  of  wells  finished  below  it  ranging  from  a  minimum  of 
2972  feet  (in  Well  No.  29)  to  3720  feet  (in  Well  No.  27),  and  lying 
mostly  between  3100  feet  and  3300  feet. 

Five  of  the  wells  in  this  group  are  abandoned.  Well  No.  27,  the 
farthest  south  on  the  west  line,  was  originally  a  good  producer,  but  got 
into  trouble  after  the  water  came  in,  lost  a  string  of  tools,  and  was 
finally  pulled  and  plugged.  Well  No.  35  had  casing  trouble,  and  was 
abandoned,  unfinished,  at  2554  feet.  Well  No.  31,  at  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  group,  and  with  one  exception  the  farthest  south  on  the  lease, 
was  a  dry  hole  at  3754  feet. 

Like  the  Graciosa  wells,  which  drew  from  the  same  producing 
stratum,  these  wells  at  first  made  a  verv  large  amount  of  oil,  this  being 


SANTA    MARIA,    OR   ''OLD   FIELD."  363 

ii  light-brown  oil  of  from  26=  to  27°  Beaume,  accompanied  usually  by 
much  gas.  Well  No.  26  came  in  at  2800  barrels  per  day,  Well  No.  28  at 
2500  barrels,  Well  No.  29  at  1000  barrels,  and  Well  No.  30  at  2500 
barrels  daily.  These  productions  were  very  well  maintained  for  a 
long  time,  but  were  almost  entirely  shut  off  when  water  entered  the 
producing  beds.  Not  only  were  the  gross  outputs  reduced  to  a  small 
figure,  but  the  oil  produced  contained  a  large  percentage  of  emulsified 
M-ater.  and  was  at  that  time  practically  valueless,  so  that  the  wells  stood 
idle  for  some  time.  Various  separation  methods  were  tried  for  remov- 
ing the  water,  but  without  miich  success.  However,  after  many  experi- 
ments in  the  way  of  plugging  and  cementing,  a  portion  of  the  water  was 
shut  out.  and  part  of  the  production  recovered.  These  wells  are  now 
r,unipers  of  moderate  capacity,  and  as  they  still  carry  considerable 
Avater.  are  handled  by  a  method  called  "skimming."  a  term  also, 
applied  to  the  removal  of  the  volatile  portion  of  the  oil  by  distillation. 
In  this  method  of  handling,  the  wells  are  allowed  to  stand  idle  for  from 
twenty-four  to  forty-eight  hours,  after  which  the  pump  is  started,  dis- 
charging first  the  oil  remaining  in  the  tubing  from  the  last  pumping, 
then  clear  water  for  a  time,  then  a  small  amount  of  emulsified  oil  which 
is  tanked  separately,  and  finally  clear  oil.  Pumping  is  suspended 
before  the  well  is  entirely  exhausted,  and  a  new  charge  allowed  to 
accumulate.  Bj  this  means  the  pumping  of  water  and  oil  at  the  same 
time  is  avoided,  and  it  is  claimed  that  wet  wells  so  handled  give  as 
much  oil  as  if  pumped  steadily,  and  that  emulsification  is  almost 
entirely  avoided.  There  is  no  doubt  that,  in  the  case  of  these  partic- 
ular wells,  at  least,  the  water  and  oil  lie  in  separate  layers  in  the  pro- 
ducing stratum,  and  that  the  intimate  mixture  of  water  and  oil  known 
as  emulsion  or  sludge  is  produced  in  the  main  by  churning  in  the  barrel 
and  through  the  valves  of  the  pump.  The  agitation  accomplished 
m  the  tubing  alone  is  sufficient  to  bring  about  this  result.  A  moment 's 
figuring  ^y\\\  show  that  3000  feet  of  three-inch  tubing,  less  the  volume 
of  a  three-quarter  pump  rod,  will  hold  some  1100  gallons  of  fluid,  or  the 
yield  of  a  100-barrel  well  for  six  hours  and  twenty  minutes.  Or  if  the 
well  is  yielding  equal  volumes  of  water  and  oil,  the  entire  amount  of 
fluid  produced  will  lie  in  the  tubing  for  over  three  hours.  During  this 
time  it  is  being  constantly  mixed  and  turned  over  by  the  reciprocating 
action  of  the  pump-rod  boxes,  and  to  this  we  must  add  wiredrawing 
through  the  valve  ports,  slip  through  leaky  valves,  and  the  hammer  and 
churn  due  to  partial  filling  of  the  pump  barrel.  These  actions  com- 
bined are  amply  sufficient  to  effect  complete  emulsification  of  such  oils 
as  are  pumped  in  this  field. 

The  wells  drilled  along  the  north  line  in  the  center  of  the  tract  found 
two.  or  in  some  cases,  three  sands,  but  drew  most  of  their  production 
from  the  upper  stratum,  this  lying  at  a  depth  of  from  1500  to  1800  feet. 


364  PETROLEUM    IN   SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

Thus.  No.  12,  the  farthest  to  the  west  of  the  shallow  holes,  is  1770  feet 
deep,  No.  4  is  1599  feet.  No.  3  is  1538  feet.  No.  5  is  1742  feet.  No.  6  is 
1696  feet,  and  No.  11  is  1825  feet,  these  four  showing  a  slight  deepening 
to  the  southeast.  This  upper  sand  was  only  a  small  producer,  and  gives 
an  extremely  black  but  rather  volatile  oil  of  some  21°  Beaume.  The 
deeper  holes  drilled  among  these  shallow  wells  did  not  get  any  valuable 
production  in  the  lower  sauds.  Well  No.  20,  farthest  to  the  west,  was 
carried  to  3484  feet,  and  found  a  small  amount  of  green  oil  of  high 
gravity  in  the  lower  sand.  This  well  was  pumped  for  some  time,  but 
was  not  considered  profitable,  and  is  now  abandoned,  though  still 
flowing  a  little  oil  at  intervals.  No.  13,  midway  of  the  north  line,  was 
abandoned  at  3400  feet.  No.  16.  the  next  location  to  the  east,  was  drilled 
with  a  rotarj',  and  abandoned  at  1631  feet,  and  No.  17,  farthest  to  the 
east  in  this  line,  was  a  dry  hole  at  2079  feet.  South  of  these  are  three 
other  abandoned  holes.  No.  16.  drilled  with  a  rotary  and  abandoned  at 
2584  feet,  and  Nos.  8  and  9,  abandoned  at  1700  feet  and  1724  feet  res- 
pectively. Well  No.  18,  drilled  as  a  test  hole,  was  carried  to  4025  feet, 
but  found  nothing  of  value  at  depth,  and  is  now  pumped  from  the  upper 
sand. 

Farther  to  the  south  the  deeper  sands  were  found  fairly  productive. 
Well  No.  41  being  carried  to  3900  feet.  No.  37  to  3580  feet.  No.  39  to 
3810  feet,  and  No.  33,  farthest  to  the  southeast,  to  3990  feet.  These 
wells  were  much  less  affected  by  water  than  those  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  tract,  and  while  never  such  liberal  producers  as  the  earlier 
wells,  have  been  very  well  maintained.  Two  wells  are  now  being 
drilled  at  the  east  of  this  group,  and  two  between  the  two  groups  men- 
tioned, all  going  for  the  deeper  sands. 

Two  prospect  holes  at  some  distance  from  the  other  wells  have  been 
carried  to  some  depth.  Well  No.  38.  the  farthest  to  the  south  on  the 
lease,  was  finished  at  4180  feet,  and  is  a  producer.  It  is  not,  however, 
considered  as  encouraging  further  work  in  this  direction  under  present 
conditions.  Well  No.  42,  near  the  northeast  corner  of  the  tract,  has 
been  suspended  at  3650  feet  for  a  long  time,  and  has  no  oil  whatever  to 
this  depth. 

Two  wells  are  now  being  drilled  on  the  north  line,  matching  the 
latest  weUs  on  the  Newlove  tract,  these  being  Nos.  48  and  49.  It  will  be 
noted  that  Newlove  No.  39  is  but  a  little  distance  northwest  of  Western 
Union  No.  20,  and  though  the  latter  was  practically  a  dry  hole  at  3484 
feet,  Newlove  No.  39  started  off  with  a  large  production  from  the 
2700-foot  level.  Such  results  as  this  suggest  that,  while  the  outcome 
of  prospecting  to  the  south  on  this  and  the  Graciosa  lease  has  not  yet 
been  favorable,  there  are  still  excellent  chances  of  finding  other  pro- 
ductive folds  in  the  large  area  between  present  production  and  the 
Purissima  ridge. 


SANTA    MARIA,    OR   *'OLD   FIELD."  365 

Las  FJores  Land  d'  Oil  Company.  Four  wells  have  been  drilled  on 
this  tract,  of  which  three  are  abandoned,  while  one  was  suspended  at 
the  beginning  of  1912,  but  was  rigged,  and  had  been  recently  worked  on. 
Xos.  1  and  2  were  lost  holes  at  700  feet  and  2800  feet,  respectively. 
Xo.  1a.  the  third  hole  started,  was  stopped  at  about  200  feet.  Well 
Xo.  2a  has  been  carried  to  a  depth  of  about  4600  feet,  and  has  had  no 
oil  except  a  small  yield  from  a  thin  sand  near  the  surface,  but  is  showing 
a  little  gas  in  the  brown  shale.  The  other  three  holes  showed  no  indica- 
tions of  oil. 

^yc]ls  West  of  the  Bail  road.  The  line  of  the  Pacific  Coast  Railway 
passes  to  the  west  of  the  wells  above  mentioned,  and  to  the  west  of  the 
railroad  and  the  little  valley  in  which  it  lies  is  a  range  of  hills  of  mod- 
crate  height,  parallel  to  the  coast,  that  is,  having  a  generally  north  and 
south  direction,  at  right  angles  to  the  ridge  on  which  the  Santa  Maria 
wells  are  located.  On  the  eastern  face  of  this  ridge  five  wells  have 
been  drilled,  two  or  three  of  which  showed  some  oil,  though  none  got  a 
production.  As  these  wells  were  carried  to  a  sufficient  depth,  and  in 
the  main  drilled  with  great  care,  the  results  are  not  encouraging  for  this 
end  of  the  field. 

Associated  Oil  Company — Xrtvhall.  In  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
Xewhall  tract,  a  portion  of  Rancho  Todos  Santos,  a  well  was  drilled  by 
the  Recruit  Oil  Company,  now  absorbed  by  the  Associated.  This  well 
was  carried  to  about  3900  feet,  and  had  no  oil,  but  a  great  deal  of 
water.     It  was  pulled  and  abandoned  Avhen  finished. 

Associated  Oil  Company — Arrellanes — Pacific  Oil  Transportation 
Company.  On  the  Arrellanes  tract,  a  portion  of  Rancho  Punta  de  la 
Laguna.  the  Pacific  Oil  Transportation  Company  drilled  a  well  in  the 
year  1904.  This  company  has  since  been  absorbed  by  the  Associated 
Oil  Company.  The  well  was  2485  feet  deep,  and  entirely  barren,  and 
was  abandoned. 

Union  Oil  Company  of  California — Arrellanes — Claremont  Oil  Com- 
pany. .On  the  southeast  corner  of  Rancho  Punta  de  la  Laguna,  the 
Claremont  Oil  Company,  a  sub-company  of  the  Union  Oil  Company, 
drilled  a  well  to  some  4100  feet  depth.  This  well  found  no  oil.  and  has 
been  suspended  for  a  long  time. 

Associated  Oil  Company — Escolle.  On  the  Eseolle  tract,  a  portion 
of  Rancho  Todos  Santos,  the  Associated  drilled  two  deep  wells.  X"o.  2 
was  near  the  north  line  of  the  ranch,  and  but  a  short  distance  south  of 
the  Claremont  well.  This  hole  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  3350  feet,  and 
found  a  great  deal  of  water,  while  the  presence  of  oil  was  a  matter  of 
doubt.  Repeated  attempts  to  cement  out  the  water  failed,  and  the 
well  has  been  suspended  for  a  long  time. 


366  PETKOLEUM   IN    SOUTHERX   CALIFORNIA. 

Well  No.  1  is  about  one  mile  to  the  southeast  of  the  foregoiug.  and 
was  drilled  to  3825  feet.  This  hole  had  some  oil,  and  was  claimed  to  be 
good  for  seventy-five  barrels  per  day  of  medium  gravit}^  oil,  but  the 
water  could  never  be  shut  out,  though  cemented  several  times.  Like 
No.  2,  this  well  has  been  long  suspended,  and  is  considered  a  failure. 

West  Iluasna  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  on  the  same 
ranch,  and  about  one  mile  southeast  of  Escolle  No.  1.  It  was  drilled  to 
a  depth  of  3970  feet,  and  undoubtedly  had  some  oil,  but  was  completely 
drowned  out,  and  was  finally  pulled  and  abandoned.  This  company 
also  drilled  in  the  Huasna  country,  San  Luis  Obispo  Count\-,  and  is 
now  operating  in  the  Bardsdale  district,  Ventura  County. 

Productiveness  of  Wells.  The  production  records  for  the  Santa 
Maria  field  are  somewhat  confused  by  the  fact  that  the  outputs  from  the 
Old  Field,  Cat  Canon  and  Lompoc  have  never  been  recorded  separately. 
The  number  of  wells  in  the  latter,  however,  has  always  been  so  small  that 
the  error  thus  introduced  is  not  of  consequence,  and  except  for  the 
years  1909  and  1910,  when  the  output  of  two  wells  in  Cat  Caiion 
bolstered  the  production  by  perhaps  six  or  seven  barrels  per  day,  the 
averages  for  the  three  fields  taken  together  will  not  be  far  from  that  of 
the  Old  Field  alone. 

No  reliable  averages  can  be  had  prior  to  the  year  1906,  as  before  this 
time  so  much  drilling  was  under  way  at  all  times  that  it  is  out  of  the 
question  to  get  at  any  average  number  of  wells  in  operation  during  the 
year.  For  instance,  in  1903  the  total  production  was  only  208,890  bar- 
rels, while  in  December  of  that  year  there  were  21  nominal  producers,  or 
an  average  of  a  little  over  27  barrels  per  well  per  day.  To  be  sure, 
fifteen  of  these  producers  were  the  shallow  sand  wells  on  the  south  side, 
always  small  producers,  yet  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  average  for 
every  day  in  the  year  was  much  larger  than  this. 

In  1906,  unofficial  figures  give  an  output  for  Santa  Maria  and  Lompoc 
of  5,400,000  barrels,  which  was  surely  large  enough.  In  March  of  that 
year  there  were  &%  producers  in  the  Old  Field,  and  15  in  Lompoc,  a  total 
of  81,  giving  an  average  output  of  183  barrels  per  well  per  day.  As 
compared  with  later  figures,  this  average  is  probably  somewhat  high, 
the  output  being  rather  more  liberally  estimated,  and  the  number  of 
wells  taken  in  March  instead  of  at  the  end  of  the  year. 

No  certain  count  of  the  wells  producing  is  available  for  intervening 
years,  but  in  1909  there  were  205  wells  nominally  producing  at  the  end 
of  December,  while  the  production  for  the  year  was  8,080,488  barrels. 
This  again  is  for  the  two  fields.  Cat  Canon  not  yet  being  on  the  pro- 
ducing list,  and  is  an  average  of  107  barrels  per  well  per  day. 

At  the  end  of  1910  there  were  229  wells  classed  as  producers,  and  the 
output  for  that  year  was  7,592,637  barrels,  or  a  daily  average  per  well  of 
almost  91  barrels. 


SANTA   MARIA,    OR   ' '  OLD   FIELD."  367 

At  the  end  of  the  year  1911  there  were  250  producers  in  the  three 
fields,  the  Old  Field  showing  201  in  this  class,  Cat  Caiion  12,  and  Lompoc 
37.  The  production  for  the  three  fields  was  6,259,776  barrels,  or  a  daily 
average  of  69  barrels  per  well.  Or  if  we  take  out  the  twelve  Cat  Canon 
wells,  and  an  estimated  1,000,000  barrels  from  this  field  (which  is  high), 
the  average  for  the  other  two  fields  is  reduced  to  65  barrels  per  well  per 
day,  or  a  difference  of  only  four  barrels  on  this  account.  And  there  is 
no  reason  for  thinking  that  the  average  output  on  the  Lompoc  wells  is 
materially  different  from  that  of  the  wells  in  the  Old  Field. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Santa  Maria  district,  with  the  exception  of 
Cat  Caiion,  is  a  declining  field,  but  these  figures  do  not  bear  out  the 
assumption  that  the  decline  is  over  rapid,  or  that  it  requires  any 
unusual  explanation.  The  greater  part  of  the  wells  in  this  territory 
are  now  upwards  of  six  years  old,  and  a  decline  of  two-thirds  in  this 
time,  when  not  offset  bj^  any  large  amount  of  new  work,  is  no  more 
than  normal.  It  cannot  be  questioned  that  the  intrusion  of  water  into 
the  productive  strata,  on  both  sides  of  the  ridge,  gave  a  severe  setback 
to  production  at  first,  but  while  little  of  this  lost  production  has  been 
recovered,  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  any  further  depreciation  of 
moment  is  now  taking  place  from  this  cause.  The  wells  are  slowly 
growing  less  productive,  as  the  gas  pressure  decreases  and  exhaustion 
of  the  sands  increases,  and  as  the  output  of  oil  drops,  the  percentage  of 
water  naturally  becomes  somewhat  greater,  but  both  of  these  changes 
are  now  taking  place  very  slowly,  and  it  can  hardly  be  doubted  that  the 
larger  part  of  the  present  output  will  still  be  available  for  some  years 
to  come.  As  matters  stand  at  present,  the  per  well  output  is  just  about 
that  of  Coalinga,  while  the  average  price  of  the  oil  is  materially  greater, 
with  a  maintenance  charge  ranging  from  normal  to  rather  low. 

QUALITY    OF    SANTA    MARIA    OIL. 

The  oils  of  this  field  show  a  rather  narrow  range  of  gravity,  from 
20.0°  to  34.6°  Beaume.  North  of  the  ridge  this  range  is  even  narrower, 
the  highest  gravity  noted  being  28.5°,  and  the  lowest  21.1°  Beaume. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  field  the  quality  is  highly  uniform,  except 
as  some  of  the  wells  suffer  more  or  less  from  water  trouble.  All  the  oils 
are  characterized  by  a  greenish  tinge,  and  give  high  yields  of  naphthas, 
kerosene  and  asphalt,  with  very  little  middlings.  The  naphthas  are 
white  and  sweet,  the  kerosene  rather  difficult  to  refine.  The  lubri- 
cating stock  contains  much  amorphous  paraffin  and  is  of  no  value. 
These  oils  run  very  high  in  combined  sulfur. 

South  of  the  ridge  two  classes  of  oil  are  found,  one  a  black  or  greenish- 
black  oil  ranging  from  20°  to  24°  Beaume,  the  other  a  broAvnish  oil 
exactly  resembling  the  oils  north  of  the  ridge,  but  running  into  higher 
gravities.     These  lightest  oils  do  not  show  as  much  increase  in  gasoline 


368  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

percentage  over  the  heavier  as  might  be  anticipated  from  the  difference 
in  gravity,  and  in  this  respect  (gasoline  yield)  are  inferior  to  oils  of  the 
same  gravity  found  in  Fullerton.  In  this  field  the  lighter  oils  usually 
show  less  sulfur  than  the  heavier  grades. 

4466» 
Pinal    Oil    Company.     Well    No.    8. 

Gravity 21.1°   Boaiime 

This  is  a  fairly  limpid,  greenish-black  oil.  with  a  strong,  unpleasant  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.   distilled   from   copper,   first   four  cuts  dry,   last   cut   in   a 
current  of  gas.     Distilled  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 7.0  per  cent  50.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 0.3  per  cent  51.4° 

Third  cut l^S.O  per  cent  41.0° 

Fourth   cut 10.8  per  cent  31.9° 

Fifth  cut 50.3  per  cent  25.5° 

Fixed  carbon 7.0  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analj'^sis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  4.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  11.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  12.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  15.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.0°  22.4  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 13.5°  IG.O  per  cent  \  25.5° — 39.0% 

Asphalt "D"  19.0  per  cent,  or  62.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  were  somewhat  off  color,  but  were 
sweet,  and  treated  out  well.  The  heavy  distillate  was  a  good  deal 
burned,  and  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  dark  color  and  medium  viscosity, 
not  showing  paraffin. 

4462* 
Hall   &  Hall  Oil   Company   (Treasure   Realty).     Well   No.  2. 

Gravity 21.5°  Beaume 

This  is  a  rather  limpid,  brownish  oil,  with  a  strong,  sharp  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,   first  three  cuts  dry.   last  cut  in  a 
curi-ent  of  gas.    Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 8.7  i)er  cent  51.7°  Beaume 

Second  cut 8.3  per  cent  42.4° 

Third  cut 9.8  per  cent  33.7° 

Fourth  cut 63.5  per  cent  23.4° 

Fixed  carbon ^_     9.7  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

*Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


SANTA   MARIA,   OR   ^'OLD  FIELD.''  369 

Ou  calculation  of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  this  oil  shows  the  following 
commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate   52°  9.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  8.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 34°  10.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 23.4°  50.0  percent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  23.0  per  cent,  or  75.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  were  fairly  pale,  and  treated  out  to 
M^hite.  sweet  oils  with  the  test  acid.     The  lubricating  stock  was  consid- 
erably burned,  and  was  not  further  examined, 

4467* 

Pinal    Oil   Company.     Well    No.    16. 

Gravity 22.6°  Beaume 

This  is  a  fairly  limpid,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  strong  and  unpleasant  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled   from  copper,   first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distilled  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 4.2  per  cent  60.7°  Beaume 

Second  cut 9.1  per  cent  52.3° 

Third  cut 19.0  per  cent  41.6° 

Fourth  cut 8.4  per  cent  32.4° 

Fifth  cut 52.5  per  cent  25.1° 

Fixed  carbon 6.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  calculation  of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  these  figures  are  equivalent  to 
the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  4.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  10.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  17.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  10.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 25.1°  42.0  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt  "D"  17.0  per  cent,  or  56.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
5457* 
New  Penn  Petroleum  Company.     Well  No.  1. 
Gravity 23.1°  Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid  oil,  of  greenish-black  color,  and  strong,  sulfurous  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  three  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 17.3  per  cent  51.6°  Beaume 

Second  cut 10.3  per  cent  41.8° 

Third  cut 12.5  per  cent  32.7° 

Fourth  cut 54.0  per  cent  23.0° 

Fixed  carbon 5.9  grams  per  100  c.c. 

• 100.0  per  cent 

*Analvsis  bv  J.  P.  P. 

25—63 


370  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTIIEEN   CALIFORNIA. 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaum6  15.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  8.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  14.7  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  7.0  per  cent 

.Fuel  distillate 29.5°  15.6  per  cent  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 16.2°  25.4  per  cent  ^22.5°^1.0^e 

Asphalt "D"  14.3  per  cent,  or  50.2  Ihs.  per  libl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  distillates  from  this  crude  had  a  pale  color  as  they  came  from  the 
still,  but  carried  a  sharp  and  penetrating  odor,  which  disappeared  with 
the  test  treatment,  giving  water-white  and  very  sweet  oils.  The  last 
cut  had  a  pale  and  rather  yellowish  color,  and  a  peculiar  sulf  urous  odor 
suggesting  garlic.  The  reduced  stock  was  of  normal  color  and  viscosity, 
Avith  slight  crystallization,  and  treated  out  to  an  18.0°  red  oil  of  fine 
color,  showing  a  little  paraffin. 

7404* 
Pinal  Oil  Company.     Wells   No.   1   and    No.  3. 

Gravity 27.6°   Beaume 

Viscosity  at  60°  F 3.27°  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 1.36  Redwood 

Sulfur 1.56  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 18,997  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°  F 8.2  per  cent  66.6°  Beaume 

212   to  302° 17.7  per  cent  53.8° 

302   to  392° 12.1  per  cent  42.2° 

392   to  482° 9.4  per  cent  34.0° 

482   to  572° 9.1  per  cent  25.6° 

572°  to  grade 29.7  per  cent  24.1° 

Asphalt    12.0  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    1.8  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  16.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  9.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  13.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil ^^_  33°  10.0  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 24.4°  38.2  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  12.0  per  cent 

Loss 1.8  per  cent 

ICO.O  per  cent 


*  Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


SANTA   MARIA,   OR   "OLD   FIELD.''  371 

54b9* 
Rice   Ranch   Oil   Company.     Weli   No.  4. 

Gravity 25.2°  Beaume 

This  is  a  rather  limpid,  greenish-black  oil,  with  a  strong,  unpleasant  odor.  The 
sample  as  received  contained  some  emulsified  water,  which  was  separated  before 
distillation. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.   distilled   from  copper,   first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.1  per  cent  58.3°  Beaume 

Second  cut 6.5  per  cent  51.8° 

Third  cut 22.7  per  cent  41.8° 

Fourth  cut 8.1  per  cent  32.3° 

Fifth  cut 48.9  per  cent  21.9° 

Fixed  carbon 8.7  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
Od  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas.  and  caulculation  of 
.  the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  2.0  per  cent  (about) 

Engine  distillate 52°  12.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  .       18.3  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  10.1  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.9°  15.4  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.6°  20.4  per  cent  \  21.9°— 32.8% 

Asphalt "D"  21.8  per  cent,  or  76.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  quite  yellow,  but  very  sweet, 
and  took  the  test  acid  only  fairly  well.  The  heavA'  stock  was  of  good 
color,  but  of  low  viscosit}^  and  a  strong,  sulfurous  odor.  This  gave  a 
reduced  stock  of  high  viscosity,  with  some  paraffin,  which  treated  out 
to  a  16.0°  red  oil  of  fine  color,  but  with  a  high  cold  test. 

5455* 

New  Penn   Petroleum  Company.     Well   No.  6. 

Gravity 26.6°  Beaume 

This  is  a   fairly  limpid   oil   of  a  greenish-black   color,   with   a  strong  and   rather 
sulfurous  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.   distilled   from   copper,   first   four   cuts  dry,   last  cut  in   a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 15.0  per  cent  61.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut 8.1  per  cent  51.8° 

Third  cut 14.6  per  cent  41.9° 

Fourth  cut 8.9  per  cent  31.6° 

Fifth  cut 47.7  per  cent  22.5° 

Fixed  carbon .5.7  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


372  TETROLEUM   IN   SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
( oke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  obtained : 

Gasoline    61°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  10.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  12.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  10.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.2°  21.3  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.4°  24.9  per  cent  \2.B.0°^6.2% 

Asphalt "D"  14.8  per  cent,  or  51.9  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  crude  run  dark  and  with  a  strong  odor, 
but  with  the  test  acid  came  out  with  good  odors  and  fair  colors.  The 
lubricating  distillate  was  rather  dark,  with  a  moderate  viscosity,  and 
strong,  sulfurous  odor.  This  gave  a  reduced  stock  of  good  color,  and 
Avith  a  rather  high  viscosity,  which  treated  out  to  a  dark  red  engine  oil 
of  good  body,  17.3°  Beaume. 

4461* 
Pinal    Oil    Company.     Well    No.    20. 

Gravity 24.1°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  limpid,  broAvnish-black  oil,  with  a  shai-p  and  rather  strong  odor.  Sample 
as  received  contained  considerable  emulsified  water,  which  was  separated  prior  to 
distillation. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 8.6  per  cent  58.4°  Beaume 

Second  cut 9.3  per  cent  52.4° 

Third   cut   . 10.3  per  cent  42.4° 

Fourth  cut 22.0  per  cent  33.1° 

Fifth  cut 41.3  per  cent  24.0° 

Fixed  carbon 7.9  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  ."i.O  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  17.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  0.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  2.3.3  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.2°  10.3  per  cent  }  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.5°  12.7  per  cent  ^  24.6°— 29.0% 

Asphalt "D"  19.7  per  cent,  or  67.3  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  rather  dark,  but  cleared  up  well 
with  the  test  acid.  Decomposition  took  place  in  the  last  two  cuts,  and 
the  last  was  considerably  burned.  The  reduced  stock  was  dark  and  of 
low  viscosity,  but  treated  out  to  a  deep  red  engine  oil  of  16.6°  Beaume, 
with  low  viscosity,  and  only  a  trace  of  paraffin. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


SANTA   MARIA,   OR   ''OLD  FIELD.''  373 

4460* 
Dome    Oil    Company.     Well    No.    A-7. 

Gravity 28.5°  Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid,  greenisli-black  oil    with  a  rather  sharp  odor. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.   distilled   from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 6.6  per  cent  64.0°  Beaum6 

Second  cut S.4  per  cent  52.7° 

Third  cut 23.7  per  cent  42.3° 

Fourth  cut . S.7  per  cent  33.3° 

Fifth  cut 45.8  per  cent  26.4° 

Fixed  carbon 6.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cnt  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  asphalt  to  coke,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown. 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  9.0  per  cent 

Engine   distillate 52°  2.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  25.0  per  cent 

,  Stove  oil 33°  8.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.3°  25.2  per  cent  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.8  per  cent  j  26.4°— 40.0% 

Asphalt "D"  15.5  per  cent,  or  54.4  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  pale,  and  treated  out  to  white 
and  sweet  oils.     The  lubricating  stock  was  a  good  deal  burned,  and  gave 
a   reduced   stock   of   a   brownish-green   color   and   medium   viscosity, 
showing  some  crystallization. 

7402.t 
Western    Union   Oil   Company.     Well    No.  3. 

Gravity 20.0°   Beaum§ 

Viscosity  at  60°  F 38.40  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 2.81  Redwood 

Sulfur - 2.08  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 19,664  British  thermal  units 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°  F 0.9  per  cent 

212  to  302° 6.0  per  cent  54.3°  Beaum6 

302  to  392° 10.5  per  cent  43.1° 

392  to  482° 9.3  per  cent  34.0° 

482  to  572° 11.0  per  cent  27.7° 

572°  to  grade 39.5  per  cent  22.7° 

Asphalt    22.0  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    0.8  per  cent 


100.0  per  cent 


♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
tAnalysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


374 


PETROLEUil    I^^    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 


These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumc' 

Engine  distillate 52° 

Kerosene  42° 

Stove  oil 33° 

Middlings  and  lubricants 23.8° 

Asphalt   "D" 

Loss 


following  commercial  analysis ; 

I.O  pel- cent 

7.0  per  cent 

!»..j  per  cent 
10.0  per  cent 

4U.7  per  cent  (not  separated) 
22.0  per  cent 

O.S  per  cent 


1(X).0  per  cent 


744.3* 
Western   Union  Oil  Company.     A  well. 

Gravity 20.5°   Beaum6 

Viscosity  at  60°  F 28.62  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 2.03  Redwood 

The  number  of  the  well  from  which  this  sample  was  taken  is  not  recorded.     It  was 
probably  one  of  the  shallower  wells  at  the  northeast. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  302°   F 12.0  per  cent  57.1°  Beaume 

302  to  392° 10.4  per  cent  40.2° 

392   to  482° 8.3  per  cent  32.8° 

482  to  572° 24.5  per  cent  27.5° 

572°  to  grade— a 22.6  per  cent  22.7° 

572°  to  grade — b 4.8  per  cent  22.3° 

Asphalt    17.9  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Gain 0.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline : 61°  Beaume  6.0  per  cent  (approximate) 

Engine  distillate 52°  4.0  per  cent  (approximate) 

Kerosene 42°  12.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  S.O  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 24.9°  51.6  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  17.9  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


•Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


SANTA   MARIA^   OR   ''OLD  FIELD."  375 

5458* 
Western    Union   Oil   Company.     Weii    No.  7. 

Gravity 22.4°  Beaume 

This  is  a  fairly  limpid  oil,  with  a  gTeenish-black  color,  and  a  strong  but  not  sul- 
furous  odor.     This  sample  as  received  contained  some  emulsified  water,  which  was 
separated  before  distillation. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled   from  copper,   first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distillation  to  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 16.1  per  cent  61.0°  Beaumg 

Second  cut 6.0  per  cent  47.9° 

Third   cut   8.5  per  cent  32.6° 

Fourth  cut 11.2  per  cent  29.2° 

Fifth  cut 48.3  per  cent  22.0° 

Fixed  carbon 9.9  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  the  commercial  analysis  is  as  follows : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  16.1  per  cent 

,  Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  12.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  6.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.7°  12.4  per  cent  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.3°  27.7  per  cent  (,  22.0°— iO.1% 

Asphalt —  "D"  24.8  per  cent,  or  87.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  ran  yellow  from  the  still,  but  treated  out  fairly 
white  and  perfectly  sweet.  The  lubricating  distillate  was  rather  dark, 
with  a  high  viscosity,  and  considerable  paraffin.  This  gave  an  almost 
solid  reduced  stock,  of  fine  color,  which  treated  out  to  a  rich  orange 
engine  oil,  of  19.1°  Beaume,  which  solidified  at  60°  F. 

4457* 
Western    Union   Oil   Company.     Weil    No.   43. 

Gravity 24.3°  Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid,  brownish  oil,  with  a  sweet  and  rather  strong  odor. 
The  sample  as  received  contained  considerable  emulsified  water,  which  was  removed 
before  distillation. 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled   from  copper,  first  four  cuts  di-y,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 6.0  per  cent  58.9°  Beaum4 

Second  cut 12.0  per  cent  51.5° 

Third  cut 12.4  per  cent  41.7° 

Fourth  cut 15.8  per  cent  32.2° 

Fifth  cut 45.4  per  cent  27.3° 

Fixed  carbon 8.4  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100,0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


376  PETROLEUM   IN   SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

On  calculation  of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  these  figures  are  equivalent  to 
the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaum6  3.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  IG.O  per  cent 

Kerosene 42"  0.4  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  14.5  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants 27.3°  35.6  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D"  21.0  per  cent,  or  73.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
4458* 
Western    Union   Oil  Company.     Well   No.   34. 

Gravity 25.8°  Beaume 

This  is  a  moderately  limpid,  brownish  oil,  with  a  sweet  and  strong  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.   distilled   from  copper,   first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 9.3  per  cent  63.9°  Beaume 

Second  cut 8.3  per  cent  52.5° 

Third  cut 19.3  per  cent  42.2° 

Fourth  cut 12.2  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 41.5  per  cent  21.9° 

Fixed  carbon 9.0  grams  per  lOO  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On   calculation   of   the   coke   to   asphalt   the   following   commercial 
analysis  is  obtained: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  12.5  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  3.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  12.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  12.2  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 21.9°  37.3  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt  "D"  22.5  per  cent,  or  79.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  dark  colored  and  with  a  strong 
odor,  which  was  not  much  improved  by  the  test  acid.  Cracking*  started 
in  the  33°  cut,  though  not  to  such  an  extent  as  to  much  alter  the  yield 
of  this  oil. 

The  lubricating  stock  contained  so  much  paraffin  as  to  freeze  in  the 
condenser,  and  was  not  considered  to  be  worth  examining. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


SANTA   MARIA,   OR  '^OLD   FIELD."  377 

4468* 
Western    Union   Oil   Company.     Well    No.   21. 

Gravity 26.7°  Beaume 

This  is  a  limpid  oil  of  a  brownish-black  color  and  a  strong  but  rather  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distilled  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 5.2  per  cent  62.4°  Beaume 

Second  cut 16.8  per  cent  52.1° 

Third  cut 10.5  per  cent  41.2° 

Fourth  cut 19.5  per  cent  32.9° 

Fifth  cut 41.9  per  cent  25.9° 

Fixed  carbon 6.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  inert  gas,  and  calculation 
of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  7.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  13.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  10.5  per  cent 

-Stove  oil 33°  19.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.5°  20.5  per  cent  }  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.:^  per  cent  (,  25.9°— 34.7% 

Asphalt "D"  15.3  per  cent,  or  53.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  ran  a  little  dark,  but  treated  out  in  a  satisfactory- 
manner.     The  lubricating  stock  was  pale  and  thin,  and  gave  a  reduced 
stock  of  rich  olive,  pale  color,  which  solidified  at  47°  F. 

4470* 
Western   Union  Oil  Company.     Well   No.  38. 

Gravity 1 33.5°  Beaumg 

A  very  limpid  oil  with  a  strong  greenish  tinge,  and  a  sweet,  gassy  odor.     The  water 
in  this  sample  was  not  emulsified. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.   distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in   a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 8.2  per  cent  63.2    Beaume 

Second  cut 16.2  per  cent  52.4° 

Third  cut 19.7  per  cent  42.0° 

Fourth  cut 35.2  per  cent  33.0° 

Fifth  cut 17.1  per  cent  Solid 

Fixed  carbon 3.6  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

•Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


378  TETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

On  calculation  of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  com- 
mercial analysis: 

Gasoline Gl°  Beaumo  11.5  per  cent  (about) 

Engine  distillate   52°  10.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  22.7  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  35.3  per  cent 

Middlings  and  lubricants Solid  11.5  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt "D'  9.0  per  cent,  or  31.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

I  II 

j    .{  5*100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  ran  pale  from  the  still,  and  treated  out  well. 
The  stove  oil  was  more  or  less  burned,  and  the  oil  seems  to  be  tender 
at  this  point.  The  lubricating  stock  froze  solid  as  it  dropped  from  a  hot 
condenser  and  was  not  further  examined. 


7403* 
Western    Union    Oil    Company.     A    well. 

Gravity 34.6°  Beaume 

Viscosity  at  60°  F 1.72  Redwood 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 1.17  Redwood 

Sulfur 0.60  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 19,485  British  thermal  units 

The  number  of  the  well  from  which  this  sample  was  taken  is  uncertain,  but  it  was 
one  of  the  deeper  southern  wells,  probably  between  No.  36  and  No.  40. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  a  glass  flask,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  212°  F.— S.O  per  cent  64.8°  Beaume 

212  to  302° 16.0  per  cent  52.2-^ 

302  to  392° 12.0  per  cent  44.4° 

392  to  482° 13.4  per  cent  37.6° 

^82  to  572° 10.8  per  cent  33.3° 

572°  to  grade— a 23.0  per  cent  29.3° 

572°  to  grade— b 7.4  per  cant  28.7° 

Asphalt    8.0  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss    0.8  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline--- 61°  Beaume  14.0  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  5.5  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  30.5  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  ij..O  per  cent . 

Middlings  and  lubricants 29.1°  30.2  per  cent 

Asphalt   "D".  8.0  per  cent 

Loss 0.8  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 


►Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


I 


CAT    CANOX    WELLS.  379 

CHAPTER  XX. 

CAT  CANON  WELLS. 

The  wells  of  the  Cat  Canon  or  East  field  are  located  in  a  strip  some 
two  miles  wide  and  four  miles  long,  ranging  fi;om  northwest  to  south- 
east across  townships  9-33  aad  9-32.  Only  a  small  portion  of  this  area 
has  been  brought  to  production  at  this  time,  but  the  work  done  has  been 
sufficient  to  show  that  the  larger  p^rt,  at  least,  is  underlain  by  produc- 
tive oil  sands. 

The  history  of  this  field  has  been  very  peculiar.  The  first  discovery 
was  made  some  five  years  ago,  a  very  large  flowing  well  was  brought  in 
during  the  following  year,  and  a  number  of  holes  have  been  drilled, 
most  of  which  indicates  the  existence  of  very  productive  sands.  Yet, 
with  about  thirty  completed  holes  in  the  field,  some  of  which  have  been 
finished  two  years  or  more,  all  but  a  very  small  proportion  of  the 
production  has  come  from  three  wells,  and  a  number  of  the  completed 
wells  (completed,  that  is,  as  to  depth),  though  known  to  penetrate  thiok 
layers  of  rich  sand,  are  not  now  being  operated. 

Various  reasons  may  be  assigned  for  this  condition  of  affairs,  :  .d 
several  deductions  drawn,  some  of  them  not  very  flattering  to  the  pi  js- 
pects  of  the  territory  as  a  whole.  But  as  the  records  speak  for  them- 
selves, they  should  be  presented  before  any  generalities  are  given. 

Carpiytteria  Oil  Company.  This  corporation  has  a  drilling  well  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  cjuarter  of  section  32,  9-33.  This 
well  was  started  in  1909,  and  carried  to  a  depth  of  about  3200  feet, 
at  which  depth  a  portion  of  the  inner  string  was  split,  and  the  casing 
parted  while  attempting  to  draw.  It  is  now  reported  that  this  well  is 
to  be  abandoned,  the  formation  at  the  bottom  of  the  hole  being  quite 
different  from  that  found  in  other  Cat  Cafion  weUs,  and  very  difficult  to 
handle.  No  oil  was  encountered  in  this  well.  The  Carpinteria  Oil 
Company  also  drilled  two  wells  near  the  town  of  that  name,  on  the 
Santa  Barbara  coast,  in  1905  and  1906. 

Sisquoc  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  600-foot  well  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Long  Cafion  road,  on  the  southeast  quarter,  southwest 
quarter,  section  19,  9-33.  This  well  has  been  suspended  since  1908,  but 
is  still  rigged  for  drilling. 

Cat  Caiii/on  OU  Conipauf/.  This  well  is  immediately  across  the  caiion 
from  the  Sisquoc  hole,  and  on  the  southwest  quarter,  northwest  quarter, 
section  20.  9-33.  It  was  started  in  the  latter  part  of  1910,  but  after  a 
depth  of  a  few  hundred  feet  was  reached  was  suspended.  It  still  stands 
rigged. 


CAT    CANON'    ^V£LLS.  379 

CHAPTER  XX. 

CAT  CANON  WELLS. 

The  wells  of  the  Cat  Cauon  or  East  field  are  located  in  a  strip  some 
two  miles  wide  and  four  miles  long,  ranging  from  northwest  to  south- 
east across  townships  9-33  and  9-32.  Only  a  small  portion  of  this  area 
has  been  brought  to  production  at  this  time,  but  the  work  done  has  been 
sufficient  to  show  that  the  larger  part,  at  least,  is  underlain  by  produc- 
tive oil  sands. 

The  history  of  this  field  has  been  ver\-  peculiar.  The  first  discovery 
was  made  some  five  years  ago,  a  very  large  flowing  well  was  brought  in 
during  the  following  year,  and  a  number  of  holes  have  been  drilled, 
most  of  which  indicates  the  existence  of  very-  productive  sands.  Yet, 
with  about  thirty  completed  holes  in  the  field,  some  of  which  have  been 
finished  two  years  or  more,  all  but  a  very  small  proportion  of  the 
production  has  come  from  three  wells,  and  a  number  of  the  completed 
wells  (completed,  that  is,  as  to  depth),  though  known  to  penetrate  thick 
layers  of  rich  sand,  are  not  now  being  operated. 

Various  reasons  may  be  assigned  for  this  condition  of  affairs.  A 
several  deductions  drawn,  some  of  them  not  very  flattering  to  the  pi.  js- 
pects  of  the  territory  as  a  whole.  But  as  the  records  speak  for  them- 
selves, they  should  be  presented  before  any  generalities  are  given. 

Carpinieria  Oil  Company.  This  corporation  has  a  drilling  well  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  32,  9-33.  This 
well  was  started  in  1909.  and  carried  to  a  depth  of  about  3200  feet, 
at  which  depth  a  portion  of  the  inner  string  was  split,  and  the  casing 
parted  while  att-empting  to  draw.  It  is  now  reported  that  this  well  is 
to  be  abandoned,  the  formation  at  the  bottom  of  the  hole  being  quite 
difl'erent  from  that  found  in  other  Cat  Canon  wells,  and  very  difficult  to 
handle.  No  oil  was  encountered  in  this  well.  The  Carpinteria  Oil 
Company  also  drilled  two  wells  near  the  town  of  that  name,  on  the 
Santa  Barbara  coast,  in  1905  and  1906. 

Sisquoc  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  600-foot  well  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Long  Caiion  road,  on  the  southeast  quarter,  southwest 
quarter,  section  19.  9-33.  This  well  has  been  suspended  since  1908,  but 
is  still  rigged  for  drilling. 

Cat  Canyon  OU  Company.  This  well  is  immediately  across  the  canon 
from  the  Sisquoc  hole,  and  on  the  southwest  quarter,  northwest  quarter, 
.section  20.  9-33.  It  was  started  in  the  latter  part  of  1910,  but  after  a 
depth  of  a  few  hundred  feet  was  reached  was  suspended.  It  still  stands 
rigged. 


380  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

Palmer  Union  Oil  Company;  Stendell  tract.  Well  No.  1  on  this  lease 
is  situated  on  the  northwest  quarter,  southwest  quarter  of  section  29, 
9-32.  It  was  started  during  1910,  and  carried  to  a  depth  of  3480  feet. 
It  is  known  that  an  oil  sand,  possibly  several,  were  encountered,  but 
much  water  was  struck  above  the  oil  sand,  and  probably  some  below. 
This  hole  was  cemented  several  times,  but  all  efforts  to  shut  off  the 
water  failed,  and  no  production  was  ever  had.  At  present  it  is  standing 
idle. 

Well  No.  2  on  the  Stendell  is  on  the  southeast  quarter,  southeast 
quarter  of  section  30,  9-32,  a  short  distance  north  of  Brooks  No.  1. 
This  well  is  practically  completed  as  to  depth,  but  has  not  yet  been 
brought  to  production. 

Brooks  Oil  Company.  Both  wells  of  this  company  are  on  the  north- 
east quarter,  northeast  quarter,  section  31,  9-32.  No.  1  was  drilled  in 
1909,  and  found  some  oil  and  a  great  deal  of  water  at  3090  feet.  After 
many  attempts  to  shut  out  this  water,  the  hole  was  finally  converted 
into  a  water  well,  and  is  now  supplying  fresh  water  for  this  and  adja- 
cent leases  on  an  air-lift. 

Well  No.  2  was  stopped  at  about  2400  feet,  and  was  put  on  the  pump. 
This  well  would  undoubtedly  be  a  liberal  producer  if  the  oil  could  be 
gotten  out  of  the  hole,  and  a  considerable  quantity  has  been  taken  out. 
In  fact,  this  is  the  only  well  in  Cat  Canon  proper  from  which  oil  has 
been  sold  in  commercial  quantity.  The  extreme  viscosity  of  the  oil, 
however,  makes  all  drilling  and  pumping  operations  most  difficult,  and 
as  the  well  has  considerable  water  and  some  sand,  it  has  proven  a  diffi- 
cult problem  to  keep  it  in  operation. 

Henderson  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  on  the  south- 
east quarter,  southwest  quarter  of  section  30^  9-33.  it  was  originally 
carried  to  the  ' '  fourth-sand, "  at  a  depth  of  3560  feet,  but  failing  to 
produce  from  this  sand,  was  perforated  in  the  "third-sand"  at  2460 
feet.  After  working  on  the  well  a  long  time  it  was  finally  suspended, 
after  being  very  badly  damaged,  and  may  be  considered  a  lost  hole. 
Some  oil  was  produced  from  this  well,  the  quality  being  about  the  same 
as  that  from  other  w^ells  in  Cat  Canon.  The  property  is  now  under 
lease  to  the  Santa  Maria  Petroleum  and  Pipeline  Company. 

Santa  Maria  Petroleum  and  Pipeline  Company.  The  well  of  this 
company,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 

30,  was  not  being  operated  when  visited,  and  no  certain  statement  of  the 
conditions  could  be  had.  It  appears  to  be  a  deep  hole,  and  to  have  some 
oil,  but  has  not  produced. 

Santa  Maria  Enterprise  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is 
on  the  Blodgett  tract,  northwest  quarter,  northwest  quarter,  section 

31,  9-32.  This  hole  collapsed  at  a  depth  approximating  3000  feet,  and 
is  now  being  redrilled. 


CAT    CANON   WELLS.  381 

Associated  Oil  Company:  Williams.  The  Associated  well  on  Will- 
iams land,  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  31,  9-32, 
was  the  pioneer  well  in  this  field,  being  drilled  by  the  Recruit  Oil  Com- 
pany (since  absorbed  by  the  Associated)  in  the  year  1907.  It  was 
carried  to  a  depth  of  about  3100  feet,  but  found  only  a  very  stiff  tar  at 
that  depth,  and  was  pulled  and  plugged. 

Xew  Pennsylvania  Petroleum  Company ;  Fugler.  This  well  is  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  9-32,  and  has 
been  drilling  for  almost  three  years.  It  was  originally  carried  to  3555 
feet,  but  at  this  depth  the  oil  was  so  extremely  heavy  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  work  either  pumps  or  balers  in  it,  the  tar  being  stiff  enough  to 
roll  into  balls  in  cold  weather.  As  it  was  thought  that  the  presence  of 
water  might  tend  to  cause  this  condition,  the  pipe  was  pulled  back  to 
3000  feet,  and  when  visited  last  the  well  was  being  rigged  for  pumping 
at  this  depth.  It  had  flowed  some  oil  a  short  time  previously,  this  oil 
being  very  heavy,  but  considerably  less  viscous  than  the  tar  first  pro- 
duced. 

West  Oil  Company.  This  company  has  a  well  immediately  north  of 
the  New  Pennsylvania  well,  on  the  southwest  quarter,  northwest  quarter, 
section  30,  9-32.  This  well  was  originally  drilled  to  3360  feet,  and  was 
reported  as  a  producer,  but  the  output  proved  to  be  tar  similar  to  that 
from  the  well  adjacent.  While  working  ^dth  the  well  it  collapsed ;  the 
casing  was  then  cut  off  and  the  hole  redrilled  to  2937  feet,  where  it  now 
stands.  While  this  well  has  undoubtedly  reached  productive  sands,  it 
is  not,  in  its  present  shape,  a  producer. 

Pinal  Oil  Company;  Fleisher.  This  company  has  two  wells  on  the 
Fleisher  tract,  the  north  half,  north  half,  section  30,  9-32.  Well  No.  1 
was  drilled  in  1910  and  1911,  and  reached  a  depth  of  2100  feet.  It 
appeared  to  have  considerable  oil,  but  found  also  a  great  deal  of  water. 
Attempts  were  made  again  and  again  to  shut  off  this  water,  but  the 
cement  could  not  be  made  to  hold,  and  the  hole  was  finally  pulled  and 
plugged.  Well  No.  2  had  been  started  immediately  north  of  the  aban- 
doned hole,  in  January,  1912. 

Cat  Cafion  proper  thus  has  fifteen  wells,  of  which  four  are  drilling, 
without  any  oil  as  yet ;  three  have  the  oil  sand,  and  are  trying  to  make 
producers ;  two  are  suspended  at  a  slight  depth ;  one  is  suspended  in  oil 
sand:  four  are  abandoned,  and  one  is  pumping  a  portion  of  the  time, 
with  much  sand  trouble. 

This  is  the  record  of  five  years'  work,  and  as  it  is  quite  certain  that 
prolific  sands  are  passed  through  in  these  wells,  the  condition  is  remark- 
able enough  to  have  called  forth  considerable  comment  and  discussion, 
though  it  must  be  admitted  that  no  agreement  has  yet  been  reached. 
Some  facts,  however,  are  sufficiently  apparent. 


382  i>i:tuoleum  in  southern  California. 

The  wells  are  deep,  and  find  a  groat  deal  of  water  above  the  oil  sands, 
and  some  difficulty  seems  to  be  experienced  in  finding  strata  of  sufficient 
density  and  firmness,  between  water  and  oil  sands,  to  enable  the  proper 
shutting  oft*  of  water.  The  other  main  difficulty  is  found  in  the  extreme 
viscosity  of  the  oil.  An  examination  of  the  figures  for  the  Brooks  oil 
will  indicate  how  far  this  tendency  obtains,  particularly  when  it  is 
remembered  that  this  is  the  most  fluid  oil  found  in  this  group,  some  of 
the  tars  being  much  more  solid.  It  will  be  apparent  enough  that  with 
such  material  in  the  hole,  it  would  be  most  difficult  to  obtain  any 
adequate  log  of  the  well  after  striking  first  oil,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact 
almost  nothing  appears  to  be  known  as  to  the  formation  below  the  top 
oil  sand.  Indeed,  it  is  not,  as  yet,  at  all  certain  whether  the  earlier  and 
deeper  wells  actually  went  into  bottom  water,  or  whether  the  water 
found  in  all  of  them  came  from  above.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  at 
least  one  or  two  did  pass  through  the  oil-bearing  formation  into  sands 
carrying  water  under  considerable  pressure,  and  that  the  presence  of 
this  water  in  the  oil  sands  has  greatly  aggravated  the  difficulty  of 
handling  later  wells. 

This  oil  is  of  considerable  value  for  asphalt  making,  as  will  be  indi- 
cated by  the  analysis  of  the  Brooks  sample.  It  is  impossible  to  tell  at 
this  time  whether  any  important  production  will  be  had  in  the  future 
from  wells  on  this  formation. 

Nicholson  ivell.  The  first  well  drilled  anywhere  in  this  vicinity  was 
located  on  section  35,  10-32,  opposite  Fugler's  Point,  where  the  Sisquoc 
River  enters  the  Santa  Maria.  Along  the  road  south  of  the  river,  and 
near  the  site  of  the  well,  are  some  narrow  seams  of  solid  asphalt.  The 
well  noted  seems  to  have  struck  this  same  formation  at  a  depth  of  210 
feet,  and  after  penetrating  it  a  few  inches  was  abandoned  on  account  of 
the  toughness  of  the  material.  The  asphalt  found  in  the  Avell  was  not 
hard  like  that  cropping  along  the  road,  but  was  of  a  soft  and  rubbery 
consistency. 

Bradley  Canon  Oil  Company.  This  company  was  rigging,  in  Jan- 
uary, ]912,  on  the  east  side  of  Bradley  Canon,  about  one  mile  south  of 
the  Sisquoc  road. 

Summit  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  drilling  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  11,  9-33.  At  last  reports 
this  well  was  having  trouble  with  casing  at  about  2400  feet.  No  oil  had 
been  found  at  that  depth. 

Merchants'  Oil  Company.  In  Januarj^,  1912,  the  Merchants'  well  on 
the  southeast  quarter,  northwest  quarter  of  section  14,  9-33  had  reached 
a  depth  of  2660  feet,  and  had  entered  the  first  oil  sand.  Drilling  is 
still  under  way. 


CAT    CANOX   WELLS.  383 

Despatch  Oil  Company.  This  company  is  drilling  on  the  northeast 
quarter,  northwest  quarter,  section  23,  9-33.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1912  this  well  was  3300  feet  deep,  had  reached  the  first  oil  sand, 
and  upper  water  was  being  cemented  off  on  the  -J^-inch  pipe. 

Ideal  Oil  Company.  This  companj'  has  drilled  two  wells,  both  on  the 
southwest  quarter,  northwest  quarter,  section  23,  9-33.  "Well  No.  1 
was  drilled  in  1908  and  1909.  and  was  2502  feet  deep.  It  found  its 
first  oil  in  brown  shale  at  1101  feet,  again  in  shale  at  1665  feet,  and  in 
small  quantities  in  a  gray  sand  at  1787  feet.  The  first  productive  sand 
was  a  13-foot  layer  entered  at  1985  feet,  and  below  this  streaks  of  sand 
and  shale  carrying  oil  were  met  at  intervals  to  2145  feet.  At  the  final 
depth  reached,  however,  the  well  was  not  considered  a  producer,  and  as 
it  was  reduced  to  a  very  small  casing,  and  had  met  much  trouble  with 
water  and  running  sand  farther  up,  the  hole  was  abandoned  as  hope- 
lessly pointed. 

Well  No.  2  was  started  in  the  latter  part  of  1909,  and  is  still  drilling, 
having  reached  a  somewhat  greater  depth  than  No.  1.  This  well  went 
into  bottom  water,  which  to  the  present  time  has  not  been  successfully 
cemented,  and  has  had  much  trouble  with  crooked  hole. 

Los  Alamos  Petroleum.  Company.  The  property  of  this  company  has 
been  absorbed  by  the  Palmer  Annex  Oil  Company.  The  well  on  this 
fortj'.  the  northwest  quarter,  southwest  quarter,  section  23,  9-33,  is  the 
farthest  west  of  any  producer  in  the  field,  and  when  brought  in,  nearly 
two  years  ago,  looked  like  a  large  weU.  The  oil,  however,  is  so  extremely 
heaw  and  viscous  that,  to  this  time,  all  efforts  to  get  the  weU  to  produce 
have  been  but  temporarily  successful.  When  last  visited  the  well  had 
been  on  air  lift  for  some  time,  and  had  made  considerable  oil,  but 
excessive  air  pressure  had  split  the  pipe,  and  preparations  were  then 
being  made  to  start  on  hot  air,  after  recasing.  The  pressure  carried  on 
the  bottom  of  the  pipe  had  been  in  the  neighborhood  of  1500  pounds. 
The  well  is  3185  feet  deep,  got  its  first  showings  in  brown  shale  at  1685 
feet,  and  a  25-foot  oil  sand,  not  very  productive,  at  2115  feet,  but  gets 
the  larger  part  of  its  oil  from  a  true  sand  lying  between  3065  feet  and 
3180  feet.  The  oil  from  this  well  is  similar  to  other  oils  found  in  this 
district,  but  is  heavier  than  the  oils  found  farther  east,  being  almost  stiff 
enough  to  walk  on  when  chilled. 

Bice  Eanch  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  of  this  company,  on  land 
now  belonging  to  the  Palmer  Annex  Oil  Company,  were  drilled  in  1904. 
WeU  No.  1  was  about  500  feet  deep,  and  stopped  in  the  heaving  sand, 
many  boulders  also  being  found.  At  this  time  the  method  of  circula- 
tion, since  used  to  pass  this  surface  sand,  had  not  been  invented. 
Well  No.  2  was  drilled  with  a  rotary  rig  to  about  1000  feet,  and  also 
stopped  because  of  boulders.  Neither  of  these  holes,  of  course,  found 
any  oil. 


38-1  PETEOLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

The  Eice  Ranch  Oil  Company  is  now  operating  a  tract  in  the  Old 
Field,  Santa  Maria. 

Palmer  Annex  Oil  Company — Santa  Maria  Oil  Fields.  The  Santa 
Maria  Oil  Fields,  a  British  corporation,  is  said  to  be  the  holding  com- 
pany for  the  Palmer  Annex  Oil  Company,  of  Los  Angeles.  In  January, 
1912,  the  latter  company  was  drilling  six  wells  along  its  east  and  south 
lines,  against  Palmer  Union  and  Dome  properties.  Nos.  1  and  2  had 
reached  depths  of  2750  feet  and  3100  feet,  respectively,  and  were  in  oil 
sand,  but  had  much  mechanical  trouble,  and  were  not  yet  on  the  pro- 
ducing list.  Nos.  3,  4,  5  and  6  were  between  1000  and  2000  feet  in 
depth,  and  had  not  yet  struck  oil.  No.  7  was  rigged,  but  had  not  yet 
started  to  drill. 

Dome  Oil  Company.  This  company,  which  also  operates  producing 
properties  in  the  Old  Field  (Santa  Maria),  in  the  Lompoc  group  (see 
Gem  Oil  Company),  on  the  "Wickenden  tract  (see  Santa  Ynez  group) 
and  in  North  Midway,  has  seven  wells  on  the  Blochman  tract,  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  26,  9-33. 

Well  No.  1  is  a  flowing  well  of  modest  output,  but  produces  a  per- 
fectly clean  oil,  and  has  flowed  steadily  for  a  long  time.  This  well 
produces  a  lighter  oil  than  the  average  for  this  lease,  the  gravity  being 
15.0°  Beaume. 

Well  No.  2  flowed  for  a  short  time  when  finished.  Fearing  that  the 
well  would  get  beyond  control,  it  was  filled  with  water  while  the  casing 
head  was  being  attached,  but  when  put  on  the  pump  and  freed  from 
water  proved  to  be  only  a  small  producer,  and  is  probably  choked.  This 
well  also  makes  a  perfectly  clean  oil  of  15.5°  Beaume,  accompanied  by 
much  gas,  and  is  a  steady  producer  on  the  pump. 

Well  No.  3  was  carried  into  the  top  sand  only,  the  casing  being  open 
at  the  bottom  and  not  perforated.  It  flows  very  steadily  a  moderate 
amount  of  oil  of  10.8°  Beaume,  accompanied  by  a  little  sand  and  consid- 
erable gas,  but  free  from  water. 

Well  No.  4  is  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  tract,  and  about 
opposite  the  Union's  Bell  No.  4.  It  is  not  finished,  and  stands  rigged. 
The  depth  is  not  known,  but  probably  approximates  that  of  other  wells 
in  the  vicinity,  as  it  has  evidently  made  some  oil. 

Well  No.  5  is  on  the  east  line,  north  of  No.  3  and  opposite  Palmer 
No.  4.  When  last  visited  it  had  just  been  put  on  the  pump,  and  was 
producing  the  lightest  oil  on  the  lease,  the  gravity  being  about  16° 
Beaume.  This  well  had  not  at  that  time  been  pumped  long  enough  to 
establish  its  production  rate,  as  this  was  constantly  increasing,  and  the 
well  showed  a  tendency  to  flow. 

Well  No.  6  is  on  the  north  line,  offsetting  Palmer  Annex  No.  2.  It 
had  not  been  finished  when  last  visited,  but  had  a  good  showing  in  the 


An    Oil    Reservoir.      Cat    Canon    Field. 


Palmer  &   Dome  Wells,   Cat  Canon. 


CAT    CANON   WELLS.  385 

simip.  "Well  No.  7  is  also  on  the  north  line  opposite  Palmer  Annex 
No.  6.     This  well  was  spudded  in  about  the  first  of  the  year. 

Palmer  Union  Oil  Company.  This  corporation  is  a  consolidation  of 
the  Palmer  Oil  Company,  Palmer  Junior  Oil  Company  and  Palmer 
Senior  Oil  Company,  and  owns  all  the  lands  formerly  held  by  these 
companies,  and  by  the  Old  Mission  Oil  Company.  The  well  numbers 
given  below  are  the  new  numbers  of  the  Palmer  Union  Oil  Company. 
Nos.  1  to  6  have  the  old  numbers  of  the  Palmer  Oil  Company,  No.  7  was 
formerly  Palmer  Junior  No.  2;  No.  8  was  Palmer  Junior  No.  1,  and 
No.  12  was  Palmer  Junior  No.  3.  Nos.  1  to  6  are  on  Blochman  land, 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  26,  9-33.  Later  numbers  are  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  23,  9-33,  except  No.  11,  which  is  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  the  same  section,  but  close  to  the  quarter  line. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1908,  and  when  first  drilled  was  a  pumping 
well  of  fair  size  only.  After  being  on  the  pump  for  some  months  it 
started  to  flow  without  warning,  and  for  a  long  time  thereafter  was  a 
most  spectacular  gusher,  producing  up  to  ten  thousand  barrels  per  day, 
actual  measurement,  of  clean  oil  slightly  better  than  14°  Beaume.  It 
has  now  been  for  some  time  almost  completely  sanded  up,  and  though 
still  flowing  is  doing  but  a  small  fraction  of  its  former  output.  The 
gravity  of  the  oil  is  said  to  have  increased  somewhat  during  the  last  few 
months,  without  any  change  in  the  rate  of  flow. 

Well  No.  2  was  drilled  in  1909,  and  had  much  the  same  history  as 
No.  1,  that  is,  it  came  in  as  a  pumper,  but  later  began  to  flow,  and  up  to  a 
short  time  ago  was  a  very  large  producer.  It  has  now  been  choked,  for 
some  four  months,  and  not  producing  at  all.  though  in  January,  1912, 
it  was  on  the  air,  and  seemed  to  be  picking  up  a  little.  The  pressure  at 
the  bottom  of  these  wells  is  extremely  high,  and  as  the  oil  is  viscous,  and 
is  produced  from  loose  sand,  it  is  difficult  to  keep  them  in  condition 
unless  strongly  restrained. 

Well  No.  3  was  fini.shed  in  1910,  and  for  a  time  was  a  heavy  producer, 
though  not  approaching  either  No.  1  or  No.  2  in  output.  It  is  now  com- 
pletely sanded  up,  and  is  being  redrilled,  the  pipe  having  collapsed. 

Well  No.  4  is  on  the  west  line  of  the  quarter,  aud  about  opposite  to 
Dome  No.  5.  This  is  a  pumping  well  of  fair  output,  and  makes  a  rather 
lighter  oil  than  the  earlier  wells.  It  also  gives  much  less  trouble,  and  is 
a  reliable  producer. 

Well  No.  5  is  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  quarter,  and  opposite 
Dome  No.  6.  This  well  has  just  been  completed,  January,  1912,  and  is 
said  to  have  a  very  good  showing  of  sand,  but  is  not  yet  on  the  produc- 
tion list. 

Well  No.  6  is  on  the  north  line  of  the  quarter,  and  is  a  drilling  well  at 
2775  feet  (report  May  1,  1912). 

26—63 


386  PETKOLEUM   IN   SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

Well  No.  7  is  on  the  south  line  of  section  23,  and  opposite  Palmer 
Annex  No.  2.  This  well  was  suspended  in  the  latter  part  of  1911,  and 
has  not  been  resumed. 

Well  No.  8  is  on  the  south  line  of  the  section,  east  of  No.  7,  and  near 
the  old  location  of  Old  Mission  No.  1.  This  well  also  has  been  sus- 
pended for  some  time. 

Well  No.  9  is  on  the  west  line  of  the  tract,  oppo.site  Palmer  Annex 
No.  4.     This  well  is  suspended. 

Well  No.  10  is  the  next  location  north  of  No.  9,  and  is  opposite  Palmer 
Annex  No.  5.  This  well  is  drilling  at  something  over  3000  feet  (report 
May  1,  1912),  and  is  expected  to  finish  within  the  next  200  feet. 

W-ell  No.  11  is  the  next  location  north  of  No.  10,  and  just  north  of  the 
center  line  of  the  section.     This  well  has  been  suspended  for  some  time. 

Well  No.  12  is  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  23,  one  location  east 
of  No.  8.  This  well  also  is  suspended.  None  of  these  suspended  wells 
are  known  to  have  entered  the  oil  sands  as  yet,  but  the  depths  are  not 
known  with  certainty. 

Old  Mission  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was  near  the 
present  location  of  Palmer  Union  No.  8.  It  was  drilled  in  1908,  and 
was  abandoned  at  about  1100  feet,  because  of  casing  trouble. 

Associated  Oil  Company;  Lewis.  The  Associated  Oil  Company  has 
two  wells  on  the  Lewis  tract,  along  the  west  line  of  section  25,  9-32. 
Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1910,  to  a  depth  reported  at  2670  feet.  This 
Avell  had  a  showing  of  oil,  but  so  much  water  that  it  could  not  be  pro- 
duced, and  it  w^as  thought  for  a  time  that  the  limit  of  the  pool  had  been 
reached  in  this  direction,  as  the  small  quantity  of  oil  made  by  the  well 
was  a  very  heavy  and  sticky  tar.  Later  results  on  neighboring  wells 
have  indicated  that  this  well  passed  through  a  sand  which  should  prob- 
ably have  been  productive,  and  went  into  bottom  water,  which  pre- 
vented it  from  making  the  normal  amount  of  oil.  Well  No.  2,  a  short 
distance  north  of  No.  1,  was  somewhere  about  2200  feet  deep,  was  drill- 
ing when  last  visited,  and  had  a  good  showing  of  oil  of  a  gravity  normal 
to  the  field. 

Union  Oil  Company;  Bell.  The  Union  Oil  Company  has  five  Avells 
on  the  Theresa  Bell  tract,  south  of  the  Dome  and  Palmer  Union  wells. 
These  wells  are  all  on  the  south  half  of  section  26,  9-33. 

Well  No.  1  was  drilled  in  1909,  to  a  depth  approximating  3200  feet. 
There  has  been  much  discussion  as  to  the  actual  status  of  this  well, 
and  of  the  adjacent  No.  2,  but  it  appears  likely  that  this  hole  was 
carried  into  bottom  water,  which  was  shut  off  by  the  sanding  in  of  a 
string  of  tools  in  the  bottom  of  the  hole.  In  swabbing  the  well  for  the 
purpose  of  cleaning  out  excessive  sand,  this  sand  pack  appears  to  have 
been  worked  out,  and  bottom  water  admitted.     The  well  is  said  to  have 


CAT    CANON   WELLS.  387 

been  originally  good  for  some  200  barrels  daily,  but  after  the  water 
entered,  production  fell  to  a  very  small  figure,  and  attempts  to  shut  out 
the  bottom  water  have  been  but  slightly  if  at  all  successful.  The  output 
of  the  well  is  now  perhaps  a  quarter  of  what  it  was  originally,  and 
carries  a  large  amount  of  water. 

Well  No.  2  was  drilled  in  the  same  year,  to  a  depth  of  3060  feet,  and 
is  said  to  have  also  been  carried  into  a  lower  water  sand.  It  was  then 
pulled  back  to  2985  feet  and  cemented  at  the  bottom,  and  is  reported 
to  have  been  good  for  400  barrels  per  day  after  this  treatment.  The 
cement  plug  was  accidentally  drilled  out,  and  like  that  of  No.  1,  the 
production  is  now  small,  and  carries  much  water.  Attempts  were  being 
made  to  again  shut  out  the  water  from  this  hole,  when  last  visited. 

Well  No.  3  is  some  distance  to  the  southwest  of  the  other  wells,  and 
was  carried  to  a  depth  of  4200  feet.  Opinions  differ  as  to  whether  this 
well  encountered  any  oil,  some  operators  maintaining  that  it  passed 
through  an  oil  sand  at  about  2500  feet,  then  into  shale,  below  which 
water  was  found.  There  are  no  evidences  of  oil  on  or  around  the  rig 
at  present,  and  the  well  is  suspended. 

Well  No.  4  was  drilled  in  1910,  to  a  depth  of  2890  feet.  This  well 
made  a  small  amount  of  oil,  and  much  water,  and  is  not  now  being 
operated.  Here  again  there  is  a  question  as  to  whether  bottom  water 
was  entered. 

Well  No.  5  is  on  the  north  line  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  section, 
and  almost  opposite  Palmer  Union  No.  3.  This  well  was  finished  in 
1910,  and  until  lately  was  considered  a  moderate  pumper.  In  an  effort 
to  increase  the  output,  compressed  air  was  applied  to  the  well  during  the 
latter  part  of  1911,  and  a  large  amount  of  sand  raised.  When  visited, 
in  January,  1912,  the  air  was  still  on,  but  so  little  was  entering  the 
tubing  that  the  well  might  be  said  to  be  flowing  naturally.  At  that 
time  it  was  producing  some  3500  barrels  daily  of  clean  oil,  but  has  now 
(May,  1912)  been  badly  sanded,  and  down  to  a  very  small  production, 
for  some  weeks. 

Operating  Conditions  in  Cat  Canon.  As  already  noted,  very  unusual 
operating  difficulties  have  been  met  in  the  Cat  Canon  field  as  a  whole, 
these  falling  into  two  classes,  difficulties  in  drilling,  and  difficulties  in 
producing.  The  first  are  due  to  the  loose  and  shifting  nature  of  the 
formations  penetrated  from  the  surface  down  to  a  depth  of  perhaps 
1000  feet,  the  second  to  the  very  similar  structure  of  the  sands  from 
which  the  oil  is  raised. 

The  earlier  wells  found  it  extremely  difficult  to  pass  a  series  of  loose 
sands,  which  repeatedly  froze  the  pipe,  and  made  headway  very  slow. 
This  trouble  was  obviated  by  the  invention  of  the  circulating  system, 
now  so  well  known  as  to  need  but  the  briefest  description.     In  general 


388  PETROLEUM    TX    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

terms,  this  cousists  in  passing  the  drilling  line  through  a  packing-head 
or  oil-saver,  into  which  is  pumped  a  steady  stream  of  mud,  previously 
mixed  to  the  consistency  of  thick  cream.  This  mud  passes  out  of  the 
bottom  of  the  pipe,  and  flowing  up  the  hole  outside  the  casing,  effect- 
ively walls  up  the  hole,  and  seals  off  the  quicksands.  This  system  does 
away  with  sand  pumping,  and  while  it  is  rather  awkward,  because  of 
the  necessity  of  removing  the  head  every  time  the  tools  are  withdrawn, 
it  fails  only  in  the  rare  case  where  a  seam}^  stratum  allows  the  circu- 
lating mud  to  escape  into  the  formation,  a  very  rare  occurrence.  This 
system  has  the  same  advantage  as  the  rotary,  in  the  ability  to  pass 
through  quicksand,  while  unlike  the  rotary  it  is  not  seriously  retarded 
by  boulders  nor  hard  shells.  Circulation  is  rarely  needed  below  1000 
feet,  in  this  district,  as  at  this  depth  the  sandy  formation  is  usually 
passed  and  more  firm  shales  encountered. 

The  difficulties  met  in  the  endeavor  to  make  these  wells  produce,  and 
to  keep  them  at  it,  are  much  more  complex,  and  are  not  yet  entirely 
solved.  But  they  are  based,  apparently,  on  the  same  condition  of 
affairs  at  the  producing  level  as  is  encountered  near  the  surface. 

The  oils  of  Cat  Caiion  are  produced  from  loose  and  incoherent  sands, 
of  fine  texture,  and  almost  entirely  free  from  gravel  and  grit.  Such 
sands  will  pack  very  solidly,  if  supported,  but  when  saturated  with  a 
liquid  have  a  tendency  to  flow  freely  when  the  support  is  withdrawn, 
and  any  slight  local  disturbance  takes  place.  Further,  the  oils  them- 
selves are  quite  unusually  viscous,  and  the  pressures  on  the  sands  are 
very  high.  All  these  conditions,  of  course,  are  favorable  to  choking, 
packing,  or  bridging,  and  to  the  running  of  sands  into  the  casing. 

In  some  fields  where  other  conditions  are  similar,  the  oil  is  light  and 
fluid  enough  to  penetrate  the  interstices  between  the  sand  grains,  giving 
a  small  flow  into  the  perforations  of  the  pipe,  which  is  gradually 
increased  by  the  washing  out  of  the  finer  sand  particles,  thus  forming  a 
sort  of  filter.  This  filter  formation  is  also  favored  by  the  presence  in 
an  oil  sand  of  a  moderate  amount  of  coarser  material,  which  acts  by 
bridging  over  the  perforations  without  entirely  closing  them,  and  thus 
holds  the  finer  material  back.  But  in  the  Cat  Caiion  field,  the  oil  is  so 
viscous  as  to  pass  through  the  pores  in  the  sand  but  slowly,  thus  retard- 
ing the  formation  of  a  natural  filter,  and  also  allowing  only  a  very 
small  infiltration  through  any  sand  lying  close  to  the  perforations  in 
the  pipe. 

This,  however,  does  not  altogether  explain  the  peculiar  behavior  of 
the  Cat  Canon  wells.  These  wells  do  not.  like  some  of  the  gushers  of 
]\Iidway,  fill  for  hundreds  of  feet  with  running  sand,  nor  are  the  large 
mounds  of  sand  such  as  are  found  around  some  of  the  wells  at  Maricopa, 
at  all  in  evidence  here.  The  choking  which  undoubtedly  takes  place 
where  the  oil  enters  the  pipe  seems  to  be  outside  rather  than  inside  the 


CAT    CANOX   WELLS.  389 

casing,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  oil-sands  themselves  are  considerably 
firmer  than  the  running  sands  of  Midway.  If  this  is  the  case,  the 
choking  off  of  these  wells,  and  the  slowness  with  which  they  are  brought 
to  their  maximum  production,  must  be  due  to  a  pack  of  fine  sand 
immediately  around  the  perforations,  rather  than  to  the  running  in  of 
the  entire  mass  from  which  the  oil  is  drawn.  This  small  pack  once 
taken  out,  a  cavity  is  left  around  the  perforations,  into  which  oil  will 
drain  with  a  rapidity  depending  on  the  viscosity  of  the  oil,  the  fineness 
of  the  sand,  and  the  pressure  of  gas,  and  as  the  latter  seems  to  be  ample 
in  all  cases,  the  well  will  flow  as  long  as  this  cavity  can  be  maintained. 
But  when,  through  over-rapid  production  or  disturbance  in  the  forma- 
tion, the  walls  of  this  cavity  are  broken  down,  the  pack  around  the 
perforations  again  forms,  and  a  long  period  of  very  slow  production 
must  ensue  before  a  new  cavity  or  filter  can  be  formed,  and  the  solidity 
of  its  walls  reestablished. 

This  is,  indeed,  the  same  condition  found  in  any  field  where  oil  is  pro- 
duced from  loose  sand  under  considerable  pressure,  and  the  extreme 
slowness  with  which  maximum  production  is  gained,  or  regained  when 
once  lost,  seems  to  be  due  entirely  to  the  unusual  viscosity  of  the  oil, 
and  the  slowness  with  which  it  will  penetrate  the  sand  immediately 
around  the  perforations,  washing  out  the  finer  particles  and  forming  a 
cavity  or  filter. 

Two  methods  of  handling  these  wells  have  been  tried,  each  with  suc- 
cess but  along  different  lines.  The  policy  of  the  Dome  Oil  Company 
has  always  been  to  strongly  restrain  its  wells,  pumping  them  very 
slowly  and  raising  only  clean  oil.  This  plan  has  resulted  in  finishing 
w^ells  with  relatively  small  production,  but  which  can  be  depended  on 
for  a  perfectly  steady  output,  and  at  the  smallest  expense  for  main- 
tenance. So  that  while  the  maximum  production  from  any  well  on  this 
lease  is  far  below  that  of  either  of  the  three  flowing  wells  to  the  east,  the 
gross  production  of  the  lease  is  both  satisfactory  and  profitable,  and  is 
steadily,  if  slowly,  increasing. 

The  policy  of  the  Palmer  Oil  Companj^  has  been  exactly  the  reverse  of 
this — to  push  its  wells  to  the  limit,  raising  the  sand  as  it  came  in.  This 
policy  has  gained  the  company  two  very  large  flowing  wells,  neither  of 
which  has  been  a  steady  producer,  but  each  flowing  very  strongly  for 
periods  which  have  been  followed  by  periods  of  idleness.  As  to  which 
method  is  the  more  desirable  in  the  long  run,  the  number  of  experi- 
ments is  yet  too  few  to  determine.  The  case  is  of  present  interest  only 
as  indicating  the  extent  to  which  the  output  of  a  well  can  be  controlled 
by  its  manipulation  after  finishing. 

Extent  of  the  Cat  Canon  Field.  The  final  extent  of  the  Cat  Canon 
territory  has  not  yet  been  even  suggested,  though  tentative  limits  have 
been  set  to  the  southwest,  and  at  the  east.     At  the  southwest  corner  the 


390  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

two  wells  of  the  Union  on  the  Theresa  Bell  tract  (numbers  3  and  4)  are 
not  encouraging,  though  it  should  be  noted  that  the  same  conditions 
which  are  taken  to  limit  the  field  at  this  side  were  formerly  supposed  to 
exist  along  the  west  line  of  section  25,  and  have  since  been  disproved. 
But  even  allowing  this,  the  Las  Flores  well,  about  one  mile  west,  has 
been  carried  close  to  the  limit  of  depth  (about  4600  feet)  and  is 
undoubtedly  a  dry  hole  so  far,  so  that  the  limit  to  practicable 
production  cannot  be  very  far  west  of  the  present  producing  bounds. 

If  it  is  true  that  the  Carpinteria  well,  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  Cat 
(^anon  group,  did  not  find  the  same  formation  as  the  wells  farther  west, 
this  would  seem  to  set  a  limit  in  this  direction,  but  the  fact  is  not 
vouched  for.  No  actually  dead  holes  have  been  drilled  in  any  other 
direction,  except  the  Associated  well  on  the  Williams  tract,  and  it  is 
not  at  all  certain  whether,  in  the  light  of  present  information  and  oper- 
ating skill,  this  well  might  not  have  been  brought  to  production.  On 
the  other  hand,  no  profitable  production  has  yet  been  had  outside  of  the 
little  group  on  Blochman  land,  and  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  pro- 
ducing wells,  especially  in  the  carion  itself,  are  so  great  that  it  is  by  no 
means  certain  that  this  territory  will  ever  be  a  source  of  profit. 

Prospecting  to  the  East  and  North.  Two  wells  are  now  being  drilled 
in  what  is  known  as  the  Tepusquet  country,  several  miles  to  the  north 
of  the  Cat  Canon  group,  but  these  have  not  yet  reached  a  depth  to 
demonstrate  the  prospects  for  this  territory.  That  the  oil  measures  of 
the  East  field  do  not  continue  indefinitely  to  the  eastward,  is  indicated 
by  several  wells  drilled  from  three  to  five  miles  beyond  the  Carpinteria 
location.     The  records  of  these  holes  are  as  follows : 

Princess  Oil  Company ;  Tunnell.  On  the  Tunnell  tract,  the  south- 
east quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter,  section  3,  9-32,  the  Princess  Oil 
Company  is  drilling  at  about  2500  feet  (May,  1912).  Some  gas  is 
reported,  but  no  oil  to  this  depth. 

Santa  Maria  Midway  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is 
located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter,  section  9, 
9-32.  It  is  now  drilling  at  some  3200  feet,  with  a  showing  of  gas  and 
some  oil  reported  (May,  1912).  Some  distance  up  the  hole  a  stringer 
cf  heavy^  and  \'iscous  tar  was  encountered. 

Kernel  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  the  year  1909,  on  the 
Eancho  Sisquoc,  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  13,  9-32.  This  well 
Avas  abandoned  at  1200  feet,  without  any  indications  of  oil,  which  would 
liardly  have  been  expected  at  this  slight  depth.  A  new  well  is  said  to 
be  drilled  (May,  1912),  just  west  of  the  old  location. 

General  Oil  Company.  This  company  drilled  in  the  year  1910,  on  the 
Eancho  Sisquoc,  northwest  quarter  of  section  26,  9-32.     At  the  depth 


CAT    CANON   WELLS.  391 

of  2690  feet  it  entered  flowing  sulfur  water,  having  a  temperature  of 
iibout  140°  Fahr.,  and  for  some  time  flowed  about  ten  feet  over  the  top 
of  a  10-ineh  casing.  This  large  flow  lasted  but  a  short  time,  but  the 
well  still  made  so  much  water  that  it  was  pulled  and  abandoned.  No 
oil  was  found. 

Commercial  Union  Oil  Company.  A  well  on  the  Muscio  tract,  Rancho 
Tinaquaie,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  6,  8-31.  This  well  was 
drilled  in  1901,  and  is  said  to  have  entered  hard  rock.  The  depth  was 
about  1400  feet,  and  no  oil  was  found. 

Foxen  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  on  the  Foxen  tract  of  the  Rancho 
Tinaquaie,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  section  1,  8-32.  It  was  drilled  in 
1909  to  a  depth  of  2657  feet,  and  found  gas  and  a  good  showing  of  oil, 
but  had  so  much  water  that  it  was  finally  abandoned.  This  water 
occurred  in  several  streaks,  each  carrying  a  different  quality  of  water. 

Dome  Oil  Company;  Tognazinni.  The  Dome  Oil  Company  drilled 
&  well  on  the  Tognazinni  tract  of  the  Rancho  Tinaquaie,  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  35,  9-32,  in  the  year  1910.  This  well  was 
carried  to  a  depth  of  about  1800  feet,  and  was  in  brown  shale  almost 
all  the  way,  finding  a  little  gas  and  traces  only  of  tar,  but  no  oil. 

QUALITY  OF  CAT  CARON  OIL. 

As  shown  by  the  following  analyses,  all  the  oils  of  Cat  Cailon  are 
very  heavy,  ranging  from  11.0°  to  15.5°  Beaume.  As  the  viscosities 
of  these  oils  are  high  even  for  the  gravity,  the  heaviest  grades  are  almost 
solid  when  chilled,  and  without  doubt  these  are  the  most  viscous  oils 
commercially  produced  in  California,  not  even  excepting  the  heavier 
grades  of  Salt  Lake  oil. 

These  oils  resemble  the  crudes  of  Salt  Lake  in  giving  a  yield  of  kero- 
sene which,  while  not  large  as  a  rule,  is  surprising  considering  the  low 
gravity.  The  yield  of  asphalt  is  very  high.  The  lubricating  stock  is 
usually  of  fair  to  good  quality,  and  of  low  cold  test. 

The  sulfur  content  of  these  oils  is  most  surprising,  far  exceeding  that 
of  any  other  oil  found  in  California.  Some  samples  show  over  6  per 
•cent  by  weight,  while  5  per  cent  is  not  uncommon.  It  will  be  noted  that 
the  Salt  Lake  oils,  which  show  the  same  general  characteristics  as  these 
crudes,  also  run  very  high  in  sulfur,  and  it  is  very  likely,  if  not  certain, 
that  the  high  yields  of  asphalt  and  light  distillate  are,  in  both  cases,  due 
to  the  excess  of  sulfur. 

As  the  Cat  Canon  crudes  are  all  very  similar,  and  as  the  small 
analyses  give  but  little  information  as  to  their  properties,  it  is  not  con- 
sidered worth  while  to  quote  a  larger  number  of  analyses. 


392  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

4472.* 

Brooks  Oil  Company.     Well   No.  1. 

Gravity 11.0°  Beaum6 

This  is  an  extremely  viscous,  brownish-black  oil,  with  a  mild,  sweet  odor  suggesting 
that  of  molasses. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.   distilled  from  copper,  in  a  current  of  gas.     Distillation 
carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut S.O  per  cent  44.2°  Beaume 

Second   cut   10.7  per  cent  32.8° 

Third   cut   G8.7  per  cent  23.2° 

Fixed   carbon   12.6  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  9.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  8.7  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   30.5°  22.9  per  cent  (  Slop  distillate 

Reduced   stock   15.4°  27.9  per  cent  ^  23.2°— 50.8% 

Asphalt "D"  3L5  per  cent,  or  110.6  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  kerosene  from  this  crude  runs  a  little  dark,  but  treats  out  to 
water-white  with  the  test  acid.  The  stove  oil  after  treatment  has  a 
rather  sharp  odor. 

The  heavy  distillate  has  a  good  green  color,  and  gives  a  reduced  stock 
of  medium  color  and  good  viscosity.  This  treats  out  to  an  18.1°  red  oil 
of  viscosity  rather  low  for  the  gravity,  of  good  color,  and  free  from 
paraffin. 

5449.t 
Dome   Oil   Company.     Well    No.    B  2. 

Gravity 15.5°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  moderately  viscous  oil  of  a  brownish-black  color,  and  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a  current 
of  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut S.8  per  cent  40.8°  Beaume 

Second   cut   13.0  per  cent  33.5* 

Third  cut 65.6  per  cent  22.8° 

Fixed   carbon   13.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 
jAnalysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


CAT    CANON   WELLS.  393 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  had : 

Gasoline i 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  7.0  per  cent ' 

Stove  oil 33°  14.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.4°  18.3  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   16.6°  27.4  per  cent  ;,  22.8° — 45.7% 

Asphalt "D"  32.8  per  cent,  or  115.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  ran  rather  dark  from  the  still,  but 
treated  out  pale  and  sweet.  The  heavy  stock  was  unusually  clear  and 
pale,  with  a  mild  odor  and  rather  low  viscosity — ^this  oil  showed  a  trace 
of  paraffin.  The  reduced  stock  had  a  moderate  viscosity  and  normal 
color,  and  treated  out  to  a  fine,  pale  engine  oil  of  18.4°  Beaume,  normal 
viscosity,  but  with  a  cold  test  of  about  60°  F. 

5454.* 
Palmer  Oil   Company.     Well    No.   1. 

Gravity 14.4°  Beaume 

This  is  a  viscous  oil  of  a  brownish-black  color  and  a  sweet  odor. 
Distillatiou. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  two  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.    Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 14.2  per  cent  40.9°  Beaumg 

Second   cut   18.1  per  cent  28.0° 

Third   cut   32.1  per  cent  25.1° 

Fourth  cut 22.5  per  cent  23.3° 

Fixed   carbon   13.1  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  gas,  and  calculation  of  the 
coke  to  asphalt,  the  commercial  analysis  is  as  follows : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  8.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  24.0  per  cent 

Fuel   distillate   29.5°  18.3  per  cent  (  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 15.9°  16.9  per  cent  /  24.2°— 35.2% 

Asphalt "D"  32.8  per  cent,  or  115.1  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  were  yellow,  and  with  a  sulfurous 
odor,  but  treated  out  fairly  well  with  the  test  acid.  The  heavy  distillate 
was  pale,  with  normal  viscosity  and  a  sulfurous  odor.  This  gave  a 
reduced  stock  which  froze  solid  at  about  60°  F.,  and  which  treated  out 
to  a  red  oil  of  17.0°  Beaume,  of  very  fine  color,  but  also  solidifying 
above  60°  F. 

•Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


394  PETEOLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

545G.* 

Palmer  Oil   Company.     Well   No.  3. 

Gravity 14.7°  Beaumg 

This  is  a  viscous  oil  of  a  brownish-black  color,  and  a  mild,  sweet  odor. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.   distilled   from  copper,   first  two  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in   a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  to  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 15.7  per  cent  42.0°  Beaume 

Second  cut   9.4  per  cent  30.8"^ 

Third  cut 63.1  per  cent  27.8° 

Fixed  carbon   11.8  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  current  of  gas,  and  calculation  of 
the  coke  to  asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  15.7  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  7.5  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.2°  18.0  per  cent  /  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   16.0°  29.3per  cent  ^27.8° — 47.3% 

Asphalt "D"  29.5  per  cent,  or  103.5  lbs.  per  bbl. 

["f^f '7i'«  ;  ,         •■  •  .  ■'         jiii    jlOO.O  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  were  yellow,  and  had  a  peculiar  odor 
which  treatment  did  not  remove.  The  heavy  distillate  was  of  good 
color,  mild  odor  and  rather  low  viscosity.  This  gave  a  rather  viscous 
reduced  stock,  which  treated  out  to  an  18.1°  red  oil  of  fine  color,  and 
normal  viscosity,  solidifying  at  50°  F. 

♦Analysis  by  P.  W.  P. 


CAT    CANON   WELLS.  395 


Brooks  Oil   Company.     Well    No.  2. 

Gravity . 10.3°  Beaum6 

This  is  a  very  thick  and  heavy  oil  (see  table  of  viscosities),  of  a  black  color,  with  a 
brownish  tinge,  and  having  a  mild  odor.    The  sample  was  taken  in  January,  1912,  and 
contained  much  free  water,  which  had  not  separated  appreciably  in  August  of  the 
same  year,  at  laboratory  temperature. 
Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  using  fractionated  gasoline  to  prevent 
frothing.    Last  cuts  in  gas  as  usual,  and  distillation  carried  to  dry  coke. 

First  cut 6.0  per  cent  38.7°  Beaume 

Second  cut 16.7  per  cent  32.3° 

Third  cut 56.7  per  cent  19.1° 

Fixed  carbon 20.6  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  a  stream  of  inert  gas,  and  calculation 
of  the  coke  to  asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  3.0  per  cent  (about) 

Stove  oil 33°  19.7  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.8°  14.2  per  cent }  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock   14.3°  11.6  per  cent  ^  19.1°— 25.8% 

Asphalt "D"  51.5  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
The  first  cut  from  this  crude  was  fairly  sweet  and  pale,  but  the  stove 
oil  was  considerably  burned,  and  very  strong  with  H2S.     The  reduced 
stock  was  of  fair  viscosity  only,  in  spite  of  the  very  low  gravity,  but  of 
g'ood  color,  and  apparently  of  good  quality. 

*Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


396  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

SANTA  BARBARA  COAST. 

The  coast  line  of  Santa  Barbara  County,  from  Naples  to  the  eastern 
boundary,  is  followed  by  a  line  of  heavy  oil  seepages  which  have  been 
the  incentive  to  a  large  amount  of  drilling.  This  work  has.  up  to  the 
present,  brought  no  result  beyond  the  development  of  the  little  pool  at 
Summerland,  and  is  now  almost,  or  entirely  suspended. 

These  seepages  occur  both  on  shore,  close  to  the  water's  edge,  and 
(apparently,  at  least)  under  the  shallow  waters  of  Santa  Barbara 
Channel.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  offshore  seepages,  if  such  there 
be,  have  never  been  seen,  but  an  oily  scum  is  often  visible  on  the  water 
betM^een  Santa  Cruz  Island  and  Santa  Barbara,  and  masses  of  tar  are 
sometimes  floated  to  land  when  the  wind  sets  inshore.  Such  are  the 
observed  phenomena,  that  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  seepages  beneath 
the  channel  are  of  the  same  nature  as  those  along  the  coast. 

Some  of  the  latter  are  unusually  extensive  and  productive,  and  it 
seems  remarkable  that  after  so  much  prospecting,  no  results  whatever 
in  the  way  of  commercial  production  should  have  been  had.  And  it  is 
perhaps  still  more  remarkable  that  after  the  drilling  of  so  many  wells, 
some  of  them  quite  deep,  so  little  should  be  known  as  to  the  structure  of 
the  country  penetrated.  This  condition  may  be  in  part  explained  by 
the  fact  that  these  wells  were,  in  general,  drilled  along  the  apparent 
strike  of  the  formation,  and  therefore  would  not  give  the  same  informa- 
tion as  to  structure  afforded  by  a  line  of  wells  across  the  strike.  And 
again,  the  lack  of  any  indication  of  uniform  structural  conditions  may 
be  taken  as  supporting  the  theory  that  there  is  no  uniform  structure 
immediately  on  the  line  of  seepage;  in  other  words,  that  the  seepages 
occur  in  a  fault  zone. 

But  before  mentioning  the  theories  which  have  been  advanced  to 
account  for  the  lack  of  success  in  prospecting  along  these  seepages,  it 
will  be  well  to  detail  the  work  which  has  been  done,  and  to  point  out 
the  evidences  of  petroleum  found  at  various  points. 

The  southern  coastal  strip  of  Santa  Barbara  County,  along  which 
these  developments  have  taken  place,  is  a  generally  flat  plain,  varying 
in  width  from  a  few  hundred  feet  to  upwards  of  three  miles.  The 
Santa  Ynez  mountains,  lying  to  the  north,  are  a  high  and  steep  ridge, 
directed  from  east  to  west  in  a  straight  line.  At  their  foot  is  generally 
found  a  narrow  valley,  parallel  to  the  ridge,  in  front  of  which  is  a  line 
of  much  lower  and  less  rugged  foothills.  The  variation  in  width  of  the 
plain  is  due  to  the  irregular  contour  of  the  coast,  the  line  of  foothills, 
though  showing  two  or  three  small  excrescences,  being  in  the  main 


SAN^TA   BAEBAEA    COAST.  397 

quite  straight.  West  of  Naples  the  ocean  advances  to  the  hills,  leaving 
but  a  narrow  strip  of  rolling  land,  and  again  at  Rincon  Creek,  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  county,  where  the  plain  is  terminated  so  com- 
pletely that  east  of  this'creek  the  sea  washes  the  base  of  the  main  range 
at  many  points. 

The  surface  of  the  plain  consists  of  alluvium,  the  rolling  hills  which 
make  up  part  of  the  surface  being  composed  of  the  same  material, 
carved  by  erosion,  and  affording  but  scant  clue  to  the  rock  structure 
beneath.  The  mountains  of  the  Santa  Yuez  range  are  composed  mainly 
of  hard  shale  and  sandstone,  considerably  altered,  and  showing  no 
evidences  of  petroleum.  The  foothill  line  is  likewise  bare  of  surface 
indications,  except  at  the  point,  north  of  Serena,  where  the  Occidental 
wells  were  drilled. 

Opposite  the  plain,  and  at  a  distance  of  about  thirtj'-  miles,  lies  a  chain 
of  islands,  parallel  to  the  coast,  Santa  Cruz  and  Santa  Rosa  being  the 
most  important.  The  waters  of  Santa  Barbara  Channel,  between  these 
islands  and  the  mainland,  are  shallow.  The  coast  of  the  mainland 
shows  some  evidence  of  a  slight  and  recent  elevation,  by  which  the 
plain,  formed  in  shallow  water  from  the  debris  brought  down  bj^  the 
mountain  streams,  has  been  raised  to  its  present  level. 

Indications  of  Petroleum. 

Commencing  at  the  M'est.  the  seepages  which  have  been  noted  are  as 
follows : 

Echvards  Banch.  In  the  southeast  corner  of  the  J.  Edwards  ranch, 
west  of  Naples  Station,  is  a  group  of  small  heavy  oil  seepages  imme- 
diately adjoining  the  coast.  These  seepages  issue  from  cracks  in  the 
alluvium  of  which  the  surface,  level  at  this  point,  is  composed,  and 
consist  of  a  soft  tar,  hard  enough  to  be  rolled  into  a  ball  on  cool  morn- 
ings, but  flowing  freeh"  in  the  sun.  This  tar  escapes  very  slowly,  and 
es  the  adobe  soil  from  which  it  issues  is  non-absorbent,  and  cuts  away 
readily  under  the  action  of  water,  the  tar  is  carried  away  and  no  large 
brea  bed  has  been  formed.  Some  oil  is  found  on  the  rocks  along  the 
shore  line,  but  this  appears  to  come  from  the  seepages  on  land.  This 
tar,  which  was  found  in  some  quantity  in  one  of  the  Wiesendanger 
wells,  exactly  corresponds  to  the  residue  left  by  the  Summerland  oils 
after  slow  evaporation,  and  as  it  issues  from  the  ground  is  probably 
much  altered  from  its  original  condition.  Three  wells  have  been  drilled 
on  the  Edwards  ranch,  near  these  seepages  (see  Sapphire  and  Wiesen- 
danger wells). 

Butlierford  Banch.  The  west  line  of  the  property  of  Stephen  Ruth- 
erford cuts  through  these  seepages,  and  the  tar  springs  on  this  ranch 
a  part  of  the  same  group.     Three  wells  have  been  drilled  on  the  south- 


398  PETROLEUM   IN   SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

west  corner  of  the  Rutherford  tract,  near  the  seepages  (see  Santa  Bar- 
bara &  Naples  Oil  &  Land  Company). 

Den  Ranch.  On  the  old  J.  Den  property,  south  of  Elwood  Station,, 
tar  springs  have  been  reported,  but  were  not  examined — these  are  close 
to  the  beach,  south  and  a  little  east  of  Elwood.  Two  wells  were  drilled 
here  (see  Den  ranch  wells). 

Mescalitan  Island.  A  slight  seepage  is  reported  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  slough  south  of  Mescalitan  Island,  which  is  southwest  of  Goleta. 
A  well  was  drilled  here  (see  Mescalitan  Island  Oil  &  Development 
Company) . 

J.  Moore  Ranch.  On  this  property,  south  of  the  town  of  Goleta,  is  a 
large  deposit  of  rich  and  soft  bituminous  rock  (asphaltic  sand)  from 
which  shipments  were  made  for  paving  purposes  for  many  years. 
Analyses  of  this  rock  may  be  found  in  the  report  of  the  State  Mineral- 
ogist for  the  year  1887.  No  seepages  proper  have  been  reported  from 
this  vicinity. 

Santa  Barbara.  Slight  seepages  are  said  to  have  once  been  in  evi- 
dence on  the  ocean  front  just  west  of  the  city  of  Santa  Barbara.  These 
are  not  now  to  be  found.  At  least  three  wells  were  drilled  here  (see 
Ocean  Front  Oil  Company,  Drexel  Oil  Company  and  Mesa  Development 
Company). 

East  of  Santa  Barbara.  Beginning  at  Summerland,  and  thence  east 
to  Rincon  Creek,  are  a  number  of  seepages  immediately  along  the 
water 's  edge.  These  seeps  are  usually  found  in  the  low  banks  of  sandy 
clay  and  conglomerate  just  above  the  beach  proper,  and  are  all  of  the 
same  character,  giving  a  heavy,  tarry  oil,  in  small  quantity.  The  seep- 
ages at  Summerland,  which  were  very  slight,  were  farther  back  from 
the  shore  than  elsewhere,  and  the  sands  at  this  point  were  found  by 
working  out  (south)  from  these  seepages.  Sixteen  wells  were  drilled 
at  various  points  along  this  line  of  tar  springs,  exclusive  of  those  in 
Summerland  proper. 

East  of  Carpinteria,  immediately  on  the  coast,  at  the  junction  of  the 
Crocker  and  Higgins  ranches,  is  a  small  depo.sit  of  rich  bituminous 
rock,  known  as  the  Las  Conchas  asphalt  mine,  which  was  once  worked 
for  asphalt.  A  short  distance  to  the  east,  on  the  Higgins  ranch,  is  a 
slight  seepage  of  heavy  oil,  of  which  there  are  also  some  small  springs 
near  the  mouth  of  Rincon  Creek. 

East  of  Rincon  Greek,  no  seepages  have  been  reported,  nor  are  there 
any  indications  of  petroleum  along  the  coast  between  this  point  and  the 
city  of  Ventura,  if  we  except  the  asphalt  deposits  on  the  Rincon  ranch 
and  at  Punta  Gorda.  It  is  said,  however,  that  tar  is  found  in  the  tide 
wash,  at  certain  seasons,  most  of  the  way  to  Ventura,  which  would 


SANTA   BARBAEA    COAST.  399 

indicate  that  the  offshore  seepages  persist  farther  to  the  east  than  those 
of  the  coast. 

Santa  Ynez  Mountains.  A  number  of  small  seepages  have  been  noted 
in  the  foothills  of  the  Santa  Ynez  mountains,  between  Santa  Barbara 
and  Rincon  Creek. 

Back  of  Serena  there  were  formerly  some  slight  seeps  in  the  forks  of 
Toro  Canon,  where  the  Occidental  wells  were  drilled.  These  seepages 
seem  to  have  dried  up,  at  least  they  could  not  be  located,  but  oil  is  still 
flowing  from  the  tunnel  at  this  point  (see  Occidental  Mining  &  Petro- 
leum Company).  This  oil  is  of  a  different  appearance  and  character 
from  that  found  along  the  sea  shore. 

Other  seepages  are  said  to  have  been  found  in  Oil  Canon,  Santa 
Monica  Canon,  and  (possibly)  Arroyo  Parida.  These  have  not  been 
examined.  All  these  seepages,  differing  in  this  from  the  springs  along 
the  coast,  come  immediately  from  the  rock  in  place,  and  give  an  oil  of 
lighter  weight  and  color  than  the  coast  oil.  The  geology  of  this  strip 
along  the  foothills  is  given  in  some  detail  in  Bulletin  321  of  the  United 
State  Geological  Survey. 
Wells  Between  Naples  and  Santa  Barbara. 

Sapphire  Oil  Company.  The  most  westerly  well  on  the  strip  here 
described  is  that  of  the  Sapphire  Oil  Company,  on  the  John  Edwards 
ranch.  This  well  is  located  just  north  of  the  railroad,  near  the  east  line 
of  the  ranch,  and  some  two  miles  west  of  Naples  station.  This  hole  was 
started  in  1909  and  carried  to  a  depth  of  about  2000  feet,  getting  some 
tar  and  colors  of  heavy  oil.  The  well  is  still  rigged,  but  it  is  not  known 
that  any  work  has  been  done  for  a  year  or  more. 

Wiesendanger,  J.  Drilled  two  wells  just  east  of  the  above  location, 
on  the  east  line  of  the  Edwards  tract,  in  the  year  1901.  These  wells  are 
situated  in  a  flat-bottomed  draw  just  south  of  the  ranch  house.  WeU 
No.  1  was  drilled  with  a  rotary  rig  to  a  depth  of  600  deep.  It  found  a 
stratum  of  heavy  oil  at  the  bottom,  and  was  capped.  This  tarry  oil, 
accompanied  by  considerable  gas,  still  issues  from  the  casing  head  when 
the  bleeder  is  opened.  This  well  comes  nearer  to  being  a  producer  than 
others  in  the  neighborhood,  but  the  oil  is  too  heavy  to  pump,  and  if  any 
production  test  was  ever  made  the  results  are  not  known. 

Well  No.  2,  some  three  hundred  feet  farther  north,  was  drilled  to  a 
depth  of  450  feet,  and  found  a  little  thick  tar  only.  This  well  was 
abandoned  when  drilled.  It  is  said  that  both  these  wells  found  their 
oil  in  cervices,  and  that  no  producing  sand  whatever  was  encountered. 

Santa  Barbara  &  Naples  Oil  &  Land  Compamj.  This  company 
drilled  three  wells  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Rutherford  tract,  just 
north  of  the  railroad.  These  wells  are  on  the  west  line  of  the  ranch,  and 
opposite  the  Wiesendanger  wells.     Well  No.  1  is  directly  opposite  (east 


400  PETROLEUM   IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

of)  Wiesendanger  No.  2,  and  distant  some  six  hundred  feet.  It  was 
drilled  in  the  year  1900,  to  a  depth  of  1100  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  met 
ten  distinct  streaks  of  tar  and  oil,  but  not  in  oil  sand — that  is,  the  oil 
appeared  to  be,  like  that  near  the  surface,  located  in  fissures  or  crevices 
in  shaly  material.  It  is  said  that  the  first  streaks  encountered  were  of 
heav;\^  tar,  while  the  lowest  was  of  a  liquid  oil  of  some  15°  Beaume. 
When  the  casing  was  pulled  from  this  well,  the  tar  and  oil  rose  to  within 
seventeen  feet  of  the  surface,  where  it  remained  for  a  long  time,  but 
rose  so  slowl.y  as  to  indicate  that  no  great  pressure  was  behind  the 
supply. 

Well  No.  2  was  south  of  No.  1,  close  to  the  railroad  embankment,  and 
almost  directly  opposite  Wiesendanger  No.  1.  This  well  was  drilled  to  a 
depth  between  600  and  700  feet,  and  was  abandoned  on  account  of  the 
loss  of  a  string  of  tools.  Fresh  water  rose  in  this  hole  almost  to  the  sur- 
face, where  it  now  stands.  Much  gas,  which  burns  with  a  yellow  flame, 
still  bubbles  up  inside  the  old  conductor,  but  no  oil  whatever  is  reported 
from  this  hole. 

Well  No.  3  is  in  a  straight  line  with  the  two  former,  but  north  of 
No.  1,  and  near  the  county  road.  This  well  is  between  500  and  600  feet 
deep,  and  is  reported  to  have  found  no  oil,  but  to  have  passed  through 
120  feet  of  tarry  asphalt.  This  latter  statement  may  w^ell  be  doubted, 
but  at  any  rate  the  viscous  and  rubbery  mass  could  not  be  penetrated 
with  the  appliances  available,  and  the  well  was  abandoned. 

De7i  Ranch  Wells.  These  two  wells  were  drilled  prior  to  1900,  for 
parties  not  now  known,  and  were  located  on  the  beach  south  of  Elwood 
station.  They  are  reported  by  the  contractors  to  have  been  about  five 
hundred  feet  each  in  depth,  in  blue  shale  all  the  way,  with  no  oil. 

Sea  Board  Consolidated  Oil  Company — Steele  &  Thompson.  About 
one  mile  east  of  the  Den  ranch  wells  is  a  hole  drilled  by  Steele  and 
Thompson  for  some  company,  not  certainly  known,  but  probably  the 
Sea  Board  Consolidated  Oil  Company  of  Los  Angeles.  This  well  was 
800  feet  deep,  and  is  reported  to  have  been  in  blue  shale  all  the  way, 
with  no  indications  of  oil. 

Associated  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  located  on  the  low  bluff 
between  the  railroad  and  the  coast,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  Steele 
and  Thompson  well.  It  was  drilled  in  1909,  was  about  3600  feet  deep, 
was  put  down  with  a  standard  rig,  and  is  said  to  have  been  abandoned 
because  of  persistent  caving  at  the  bottom,  impossible  to  handle  at  that 
depth  through  the  small  casing. 

The  log  of  this  well  is  not  available,  but  it  is  said  that  the  hole  was 
almost  entirely  in  blue  shale,  with  streaks  of  tarry  asphalt  at  consider- 
able intervals.  As  it  had  six  strings  of  pipe,  the  last  4  inches,  the 
formation  appears  to  have  been  difficult  to  handle,  and  this  well  prob- 


SAXTA    BARBAEA    COAST.  401 

ably  reached  as  great  a  depth  as  could  be  attained  in  such  material  with 
a  standard  rig.  It  is  quite  certain  that  this  hole  did  not  find  any  mater- 
ial quantity  of  oil,  nor  anj^  real  producing  formation. 

Mescalitan  Island  Oil  &  Development  Company.  The  well  of  this 
company  was  drilled  in  the  year  1901,  on  the  edge  of  the  slough  east  of 
the  island,  and  close  to  the  ocean.  It  was  abandoned  at  1400  feet,  for 
financial  reasons.  i\Ir.  Frank  Churchill,  the  contractor  for  the  w^ell, 
reports  that  it  was  "mostlj'-  in  shale,  with  streaks  of  almost  pure 
asphaltum,  which  got  thinner  {i.  e.,  softer)  as  we  went  down." 

Ocean  Front  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  can  not  now  be 
located  exactly,  but  is  close  to  the  point  indicated  on  map.  It  was 
drilled  in  1900,  and  is  known  to  have  been  shallow,  but  no  reliable 
record  of  depth  nor  of  results  can  be  found. 

Drexel  Oil  Company.  This  location  again  is  only  approximate,  and 
may  be  farther  to  the  west  than  as  shown  on  map.  There  is  an  old  hole 
on  the  east  side  of  Arroyo  Burro,  close  to  the  ocean,  which  may  be 
identical.  This  well  was  drilled  in  the  j'ear  1901,  was  800  feet  deep,  and 
found  neither  oil  nor  gas. 

Mesa  Development  Company.  This  well,  drilled  by  Mr.  Floyd 
Hickey,  and  known  locally  by  his  name,  is  on  the  mesa  west  of  the  city 
of  Santa  Barbara,  and  some  distance  north  of  the  ocean.  It  was  di'illed 
in  1901.  Avas  approximately  600  feet  deep,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
entirely  in  brown  shale,  with  some  traces  of  oil. 

This  completes  the  list,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  of  developments  west 
of  the  city  of  Santa  Barbara.  In  none  of  these  holes  was  any  oil  sand 
encountered,  and  while  several  holes  had  some  oil,  the  conditions  under 
which  it  was  found  do  not  encourage  the  hope  that  the  strip  along  the 
coast  will  ever  become  producing  territory. 

No  prospecting  has  ever  been  done  back  from  the  coast,  though  there 
are  some  reasons  for  believing  that  such  work  might  possibly  bring 
better  results.     This  subject  will  be  reverted  to  in  a  later  paragraph. 

Wells  Between  Santa  Barbara  and  Rincon  Creek. 

Between  the  city  of  Santa  Barbara  and  the  mouth  of  Rincon  Creek, 
the  following  wells  are  known  to  have  been  drilled : 

Illinois  Oil  &  Asphalt  Company.  The  weU  of  this  company  was 
located  on  the  seashore,  near  the  to-^vn  of  ]\Ionteeito.  It  was  drilled  in 
1900,  and  was  abandoned  at  a  depth  of  600  feet.  Watts  notes  "yellow 
elaj'  and  sand  at  200  feet,  blue  clay  and  quicksand,  with  gas.  to  260  feet, 
blue  shale  to  280  feet  (drilling) . "  The  balance  of  the  log  is  not  known, 
but  the  hole  does  not  appear  to  have  developed  any  oil.  This  is  the  only 
well  between  Santa  Barbara  and  Summerland. 


-63 


402  PETROLEUM   IN   SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 

Churchill  &  Weber  (or  Nott  (&  Weher).  This  well  was  sunk  from  the 
end  of  a  300-foot  wharf,  extending  into  the  ocean  from  the  beach 
somewhat  west  of  Loon  Point,  south  of  Serena  station.  At  a  depth  of 
550  feet  this  well  found  an  oil  sand  of  promising  appearance,  but  in 
trying  to  enlarge  the  4i-inch  hole  the  tools  were  lost  and  never  recov- 
ered. This  well,  with  more  fortunate  mechanical  conditions,  might 
perhaps  have  made  a  producer. 

Clark,  Stevens  <&  Duncan.  These  parties  drilled  a  500-foot  well  on 
the  beach  east  of  Loon  Point.  This  w-ell  is  said  to  have  had  some  show- 
ings of  oil,  in  sand,  at  the  125-foot  and  300-foot  levels. 

Fisher,  J.  K.  Dug  a  square  shaft  to  a  depth  of  120  feet,  on  the  beach 
east  of  Serena.  This  shaft  ended  in  seventeen  feet  of  oil  sand,  too  rich 
to  penetrate  further,  but  not  productive  enough  to  make  a  profitable 
pumping  well. 

Treadwell,  J.  B.  This  well,  which  w^as  drilled  by  the  oil  land  depart- 
ment of  the  Southern  Pacific  Company,  was  on  the  railroad  right  of 
way  near  Serena  station.  It  was  drilled  in  1899  to  a  depth  of  about 
500  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  had  some  showings  of  oil. 

ColumMan  Oil  Asphalt  &  Refining  Company.  Well  No.  1  of  this- 
company  was  drilled  very  close  to  the  beach,  on  the  little  flat  just  west 
of  Carpinteria  Creek.  This  hole  was  drilled  in  1901,  was  1100  feet 
deep,  and  in  blue  shale  all  the  way,  with  much  water,  but  no  oil 
whatever. 

Well  No.  2  was  located  north  of  the  railroad,  and  south  of  the  P.  C. 
Higgins  ranch  house.  This  hole  was  drilled  in  1902  and  1903,  to  a 
depth  of  3200  feet.  At  1550  feet  a  seepage  was  struck,  of  an  oil 
claimed  to  be  19.5°  Beaume.  This  gravity  is  open  to  question,  but  the 
oil  was  undoubtedly  thinner  and  lighter  than  the  oils  of  Summerland. 
This  sand  was  not  tested  when  first  encountered. 

At  the  bottom  the  well  entered  a  body  of  tar  too  soft  to  drill  and  toa 
stiff  to  bale,  and  months  were  spent  in  the  endeavor  to  penetrate  this 
bed,  or  to  make  the  well  produce  from  it.  Failing  in  both,  an  attempt 
was  made  to  pull  back  to  the  1550-foot  sand,  and  in  this  attempt  the  hole 
was  lost.  So  far  as  can  be  learned,  this  well  did  not  touch  any  pro- 
ducing sands  except  the  thin  streak  in  which  the  light  oil  was  found, 
but  got  its  oil  in  fissures  in  the  shale.  The  tar  brought  up  from  the 
bottom  of  the  well  contained  a  little  water  and  fine  shale,  but  no  sand, 
and  from  its  behavior  in  the  hole  was  judged  to  lie  in  a  solid  mass. 

Nixon  &  Bosig.  Well  No.  1  was  midway  between  the  railroad  and  the 
county  road,  due  north  of  the  asphalt  refinery.  It  struck  the  bitumin- 
ous rock  deposit  at  sixty-five  feet,  and  was  carried  to  a  total  depth  of 
189  feet  without  further  result.     This  well  was  drilled  in  1891. 


SANTA   BARBARA    COAST.  403 

Well  No.  2  was  located  in  the  extreme  southeast  corner  of  the  Crocker 
tract,  on  the  beach,  and  just  southeast  of  the  bituminous  rock  quarry. 
This  well  found  liquid  asphalt  between  265  feet  and  285  feet,  at  which 
depth  it  Avas  abandoned.     This  tar  is  still  flowing  slowly. 

Higgins,  P.  C.  Just  across  the  property  line,  and  immediately  east  of 
the  foregoing,  P.  C.  Higgins  dug  a  shaft  to  a  depth  of  350  feet.  This 
shaft  found  streaks  of  oil,  with  gas,  all  the  way  down,  but  no  quantity 
to  make  a  producer.  The  oil,  like  that  from  the  Nixon  &  Bosig  well, 
was  very  heavy,  but  the  particular  flow  from  which  the  latter  drew  its 
oil  was  not  encountered. 

Higgins  No.  2  well  is  a  short  distance  north  of  the  ranch  house,  near 
the  county  road.  This  well  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  585  feet,  in  shale 
all  the  way.  A  single  stringer  of  sand,  some  six  inches  thick,  was  met, 
this  sand  carrying  gas  and  traces  of  a  rather  light  oil. 

Northern  Consolidated  Oil  Company.  This  well  was  a  short  distance 
northwest  of  the  foregoing.  It  passed  through  a  stringer  of  bitumin- 
ous rock  near  the  surface,  and  found  nothing  below.  Drilled  in  the 
year  1900,  and  abandoned  at  about  250  feet. 

Bakn  Consolidated  Oil  Company.  This  well,  located  some  300  feet 
west  of  the  Higgins  ranch  house,  was  started  in  1909,  and  suspended  at 
1300  feet  without  finding  any  oil.  It  is  said  to  have  been  continued 
since  that  time  to  a  depth  of  some  2100  feet,  and  has  now  been  aban- 
doned.    It  does  not  seem  to  have  found  any  indications  of  oil. 

Arctic  Oil  Company.  A  short  distance  east  of  Columbian  Xo.  2 
is  the  old  well  of  the  Arctic  Oil  Company  or  Pacific  Steam  Whaling 
Company.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1898,  was  either  1250  or  1350  feet 
deep,  and  was  abandoned  in  a  solid  mass  of  tar  which  could  not  be 
penetrated. 

Heath,  J.  Drilled  a  well  near  the  mouth  of  Rincon  Creek,  in  the  year 
1900.  This  well  was  carried  to  520  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  been  good 
for  about  1^  barrels  of  rather  light  oil  at  150  feet,  but  found  nothing 
below  this  depth. 

Hill,  Dr.  R.  W.  The  location  of  this  hole  is  close  to  that  of  the  Heath 
well,  and  it  was  drilled  in  the  same  year.  It  was  abandoned  at  229  feet, 
with  a  very  little  heavy  tar. 

A  number  of  shallow  wells  drilled  for  water  farther  inland  found 
traces  of  oil  and  gas,  but  the  records  as  to  these  are  too  vague  to  be 
instructive.  It  will  be  noted  that,  except  for  a  couple  of  wells  close  to 
Summerland,  the  conditions  indicated  by  the  results  of  drilling  at  this 
end  are  about  the  same  as  were  observed  near  Naples  and  Elwood.  In 
both  cases  the  oil  was  found  in  crevices  rather  than  in  sand,  was  of  a 
very  heavy  character,  and,  most  important  of  all,  immediately  adjacent 
wells  showed  no  similarity  of  structure  whatever.     These  observations 


404 


PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN   CALIFORNIA. 


strongly  support  the  belief  that  the  formations  into  which  these  wells 
were  drilled  are  not  in  place,  but  are  shattered  and  fissured  fault 
material,  through  which  oil  is  seeping  from  a  source  not  yet  discovered 
nor  even  suggested.  It  is  not  likely  that  any  further  prospecting  will 
ever  be  done  in  the  neighborhood  of  these  seepages. 

PROBABLE  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  COAST  STRIP. 

As  noted  in  a  previous  paragraph,  the  large  number  of  seepages  along 
this  shore  line,  and  the  entire  absence  of  result  from  the  prospecting 
which  has  been  done,  have  led  to  much  discussion  as  to  the  actual 
structure  of  this  strip  lying  immediately  along  the  shore  line.  While 
this  question  has  now  but  a  nominal  interest,  as  bearing  on  this  particu- 
lar locality,  prospecting  having  ceased  without  any  present  liijelihood 
of  renewal,  yet  there  is  some  reason  to  believe  that  the  conditions  noted 
here  obtain  also  at  many  other  points  along  the  Pacific  coast. 

On  examining  the  statements  in  the  preceding  paragraphs,  several 
general  facts  may  be  noted ;  first,  the  seepages  extend  in  a  single  nearly 
straight  line  for  a  distance  of  some  thirty  miles ;  second,  this  line  coin- 
cides exactly  with  the  present  shore  line,  meaning  by  this  the  actual 
beach  or  a  very  narrow  strip  (a  few  hundred  feet  wide  only)  adjacent 
thereto ;  third,  there  are  some  indications  that  other  seepages  occur  to  the 
south,  beneath  the  waters  of  the  channel,  but  none  whatever  are  found 
on  the  shore  side  of  this  beach  line,  excepting  those  in  the  Santa  Ynez 
range,  which  are  in  older  formation,  and  have  no  present  bearing; 
fourth,  the  seepages  are  not  from  rocks  in  place,  but  occur  apparently 
at  random  in  loose  surface  materials ;  fifth,  the  wells  drilled  along  this 
seepage  line  show  no  correspondence  whatever  in  their  logs,  and  appear 
to  be  drilled  in  broken  material ;  sixth,  the  oil  from  these  seepages  is  of  a 
highly  uniform  quality,  a  heavy,  thick  tar;  seventh,  the  wells  which 
have  produced  oil  have  found,  in  almost  all  cases,  the  same  quality  as 
that  coming  from  the  surface  seeps,  even  when  found  at  great  depth; 
and  last,  none  of  the  wells  outside  of  the  Summerland  group  have  found 
any  oil  whatever  in  sand,  but  always  in  tarry  streaks  or  masses  inter- 
spersed in  shale  beds. 

The  range  and  extent  of  these  seepages  are  sufficient  evidence  that 
a  very  considerable  quantity  of  petroleum  either  now  exists  or  has 

formerly  existed  along  this  line. 
Prospecting  has  always  gone  on 
the  assumption  that  the  present 
source  of  this  material  is  an  oil- 
bearing  sand,  and  that  the  seep- 
ages are  from  outcrops  lightly 
covered  with  alluvium.  The  two 
possibilities  under  this  view  are 
indicated  below. 


SANTA    BAEBAEA    COAST. 


405 


Figure  30  sho^\s  the  assumed  oil  sands  dipping  inshore.  This  possi- 
bility is  barred  by  the  results  from  drilling,  as  it  is  clear  that  if  the 
sands  dipped  in  this  direction,  a  well  located  even  the  shortest  distance 
north  of  the  seepage  would  have  encountered  the  sand  at  some  depth. 

Figure  31  shows  the  assumed 
oil  sands  cropping  along  the  shore 
line,  and  dipping  offshore,  as  they 
are  known  to  do  at  Summerland. 
This  view  would  account  for  the 
lack  of  results  from  drilling,  as 
wells  located  along  the  shore 
would  be  directed  away  from  the 
sand  assumed  to  crop  along  this  figure  3i. 

line,  though  they  would  have  encountered  any  lower-lying  sand.  But 
it  entirely  fails  to  explain  why  the  same  tarry  oil  should  be  found  at  a 
great  distance  below  the  surface,  nor  does  it  recognize  the  evidently 
broken  character  of  the  formations  penetrated  along  the  coast. 

Figure  32  shows  the  oil-bearing 
formation,  assumed  to  have  orig- 
inally been  flat,  now  raised  into 
an  anticline,  and  faulted  along 
the  apex.  This  view  would  ac- 
count for  the  fault  line,  and  the 
presence  of  oil  therein,  but  would 
make  it  almost  certain  that  some 
evidences  of  oil  would  be  found  ^'^'"'"'^  ^^• 

on  the  land  side  of  the  fault.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  no  such  evidences 
have  been  found. 

Figure  33  illustrates  the  theory 
which,  with  all  the  facts  in  mind, 
probably  comes  closest  to  explain- 
ing the  actual  structure  of  the 
formation  along  this  line.  In  this 
view,  the  oil-bearing  sands  have 
been  faulted  off  along  the  shore 
line,  and  the  land  or  upthrust  side 
has  been  sufficiently  denuded  by 

erosion  to  completely  remove  such  portions  of  the  sand  as  originally  lay 
to  this  side  the  fault.  It  is  by  no  means  a  violent  assumption  that  the 
fault  and  the  shore  line  exactly  coincide,  for  it  is  quite  evident  that  a 
continuous  uplift  on  the  land  side,  or  what  is  exactly  equivalent,  a 
continuous  depression  on  the  ocean  side,  would  locate  the  shore  line 
immediately  in  the  fault. 


406  PETHOLKUM    IN    SOUTPIERN    CALIKOHNiA. 

This  view  seems  to  account  for  all  the  known  facts,  if  we  assume  that 
the  oceanward  portions  of  the  oil-bearing  formation  have  been  depressed 
below  the  bottom  of  the  deepest  wells.  This  assumption  is  necessary, 
as  considering  the  relative  weights  of  water  and  oil,  the  latter  could 
not  penetrate  downward  for  any  distance  in  fault  material  saturated 
Avith  water,  but  would  always  rise.  This  would  place  the  sands  assumed 
to  underlie  the  channel  at  a  great  depth  below  the  surface,  so  that  even 
if  the  fault  plane  dipped  to  the  south,  and  it  would  be  possible  to  pass 
through  it  into  the  upper  edge  of  the  undisturbed  formation,  the  sands 
-which  feed  the  seepages  would  be  far  beyond  the  reach  of  the  drill. 

According  to  this  view,  the  little 

pool  at  Summerland  (see  Figure 

34)  would  be  accounted  for  as  a 

stray  sand,  originating  from  oil 

rising   in   the   fault,   and  forced 

back    into    higher    lying    sands 

abutting  on  the  fault.    There  may 

be    many    such   pools    along   the 

great  length  of  coast  showing  oil 

indications,  but  no  means  suggests  itself  by  which  such  pools  cool  be 

located,  other  than  by  blind  prospecting. 

Wells  in  Rincon  Creek. 

Five  wells  have  been  drilled  in  the  canon  of  Rincon  Creek,  back  from 
the  coast,  all  being  on  the  east  or  Ventura  side  of  the  creek.  These  are 
as  follows : 

Channel  City  Oil  Company— Denton  Oil  Company.  Immediately 
in  the  creek  bed,  and  some  three  miles  from  the  ocean,  is  a  group  of 
three  wells,  of  which  the  first  was  started  by  the  Channel  City  Oil  Com- 
pany of  Santa  Barbara,  and  finished  by  the  Denton  Oil  Company  of 
San  Francisco. 

Well  No.  1  was  abandoned  at  225  feet,  on  account  of  casing  trouble, 
and  made  no  discovery. 

Well  No.  2  is  said  to  have  found  traces  at  800  feet,  but  with  too  much 
water  in  the  hole  to  permit  of  testing.  It  was  cementing  when  last 
visited,  but  evidently  was  not  profitable,  as  it  has  since  been  abandoned. 
A  third  well  is  now  drilling. 

Eincon  Oil  Company.  The  first  two  wells  on  the  Allen  tract,  now 
operated  by  the  Rincon  Oil  Company,  are  said  to  have  been  drilled  by 
previous  lessees,  whose  names  cannot  now  be  learned.  These  wells  were 
drilled  into  steeply  inclined  formation  showing  many  hard  shells,  and 
were  abandoned  as  crooked  holes  at  390  feet  and  330  feet  respectively. 
When  last  visited,  the  Rincon  company  was  drilling  its  first  well,  which 
!vas  then  227  feet  deep. 


SANTA   BARBAEA    COAST,  407 

Wells  in  the  Santa  Ynez  Foothills. 

Sycamore  Canon  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  was 
located  near  the  mouth  of  Sycamore  Canon,  on  its  east  side,  and  but  a 
■short  distance  north  of  Santa  Barbara.  This  well  was  drilled  in  the 
year  1900,  was  approximately  800  feet  deep,  and  appears  to  have  been  a 
dry  hole.     It  was  abandoned  when  finished. 

Occidental  Mining  and  Petroleum  Company.  This  company  had 
formerly  seven  wells  and  one  tunnel  in  the  forks  of  Toro  Canon,  about 
three  miles  north  and  one  half  mile  east  of  the  town  of  Summerland. 
The  records  of  these  wells,  which  were  drilled  about  the  year  1885,  are 
rather  scanty,  and  are  given  for  what  they  are  worth. 

Well  No.  1  is  said  to  have  been  200  feet  deep,  and  to  have  produced 
5000  barrels  in  all  of  a  heavy  brownish  oil.  Wells  No.  2  to  No.  4  ranged 
from  300  feet  to  500  feet  in  depth,  and  it  is  not  known  whether  they 
found  any  oil,  but  they  were  never  put  to  production. 

Well  No.  5  was  approximately  1000  feet  deep,  and  was  originally 
good  for  about  five  barrels  per  day,  of  the  same  character  of  oil.  It 
rapidly  fell  away,  and  was  pumped  but  a  short  time.  Wells  No.  6  and 
No.  7  were  350  feet  and  500  feet  deep,  and  are  said  to  have  made  a  very 
small  amount  of  oil.  These  wells  were  drilled  into  a  steeply  inclined 
hard  shale  formation,  dipping  into  the  hill,  and  seeping  at  the  outcrop. 
The  order  in  which  the  numbers  were  arranged  is  not  now  known. 

The  tunnel  on  this  property  was  started  farther  down  the  hill,  and 
was  carried  into  the  same  formation.  It  is  said  to  be  511  feet  long 
(Bulletin  321,  U.  S.  G.  S.).  and  is  still  producing  a  considerable  amount 
of  fresh,  sweet  water,  and  a  small  amount  of  the  oil  described  below. 
All  the  wells  on  this  lease  have  been  abandoned  for  some  years,  and 
the  pipe  line  which  formerly  carried  oil  from  these  wells  to  the  railroad 
at  Serena  has  been  converted  into  a  water  line. 

Santa  Barbara  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  drilled  by  this  company 
about  the  year  1885  are  located  in  Oil  Canon,  due  east  of  the  Occidental 
wells,  and  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  distant.  These  wells  were 
between  500  and  600  feet  deep,  and  produced  a  little  oil  and  much  gas. 

Carpinteria  Oil  Company.  The  two  wells  of  this  company  are  much 
farther  to  the  south  than  either  of  the  above  locations,  being  in  the 
lower  portion  of  Arroyo  Parida  Canon.  Well  No.  1  was  located  on  the 
Bloodgood  tract,  was  drilled  in  the  year  1907,  and  was  abandoned  after 
f,triking  a  very  little  tarry  oil,  and  too  much  water  to  handle.  The 
depth  of  this  hole  is  uncertain,  said  to  be  about  1000  feet.  Well  No.  2 
was  located  on  the  Barber  ranch,  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  1700  feet, 
<nnd  got  much  salt  water  but  no  oil.  This  company  also  prospected  in 
Cat  Canon. 

Santa  Monica  Oil  Company.  The  well  of  this  company  is  about 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  northeast  of  the  nearest  Carpinteria  well,  on  the 


408  PETROLEUM    IN   SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

west  side  of  Santa  Monica  Caiion.  It  was  drilled  about  the  year  1900, 
was  700  feet  deep,  and  was  abandoned  on  account  of  water.  It  is  said 
that  at  about  400  feet  this  well  found  considerable  oil  of  some  18° 
Beaume,  but  that  salt  water  below  completely  drowned  out  the  oil.  It 
was  never  produced,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  but  was  abandoned  when 
completed. 

While  no  valuable  production  has  ever  been  had  from  these  older 
formations  in  the  Santa  Ynez  foothills,  it  would  seem  that  certain  por- 
tions of  this  territory  might  repay  fuller  investigation,  whenever  market 
conditions  will  again  justify  prospecting.  All  the  drilling  so  far  done 
has  been  on  the  outcrops  of  the  producing  strata,  and  while  these  sands 
seem  to  be  of  no  great  thickness,  and  pitch  into  the  hill  rather  steeply, 
it  is  quite  possible  that  operations  down  the  dip,  with  modern  tools  and 
easing,  would  develop  profitable  small  wells.  While  there  are  no  indi- 
cations, either  in  the  rock  exposures  or  in  the  drilling  records,  of  any 
likelihood  of  large  production,  the  country  is  favorable  to  operations 
and  close  to  market,  and  small  wells  of  a  moderate  depth  would  be 
profitable,  even  at  present  prices  for  crude. 
Wells  at  Summerland. 

Summerland,  a  village  of  some  250  or  300  people,  lies  on  a  mesa, 
backed  by  the  steep  hills  of  the  Santa  Ynez  range.  This  mesa  slopes 
gently  to  the  coast,  where  there  is  a  bluff  of  some  fifty  feet  in  height, 
with  a  narrow  sandy  beach  at  its  foot.  The  town  lies  north  of  the 
railroad  line,  which  follows  the  edge  of  the  mesa  at  a  distance  of  from 
twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet. 

The  first  well  in  the  vicinity  of  Summerland  w^as  drilled  in  the  year 
1886,  by  Mr.  H.  L.  Williams.  This  was  located  on  Ortega  Hill,  a 
rounded  knoll  north  of  the  railroad,  at  the  western  end  of  the  town. 
This  well  was  on  the  hillside,  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  sea- 
level,  and  was  carried  to  a  depth  of  455  feet,  a  rich  running  oil  sand  being 
found  between  385  feet  and  409  feet.  Below  this  came  blue  clay  and 
shale,  and  then  a  second  sand,  containing  lighter  oil  and  in  larger 
quantity — this  sand  was  entered  only,  and  not  penetrated.  The  first 
well  was  lost  by  the  parting  of  the  casing,  a  second  was  then  drilled,  but 
though  this  also  found  the  oil  sand,  it  proved  to  be  only  a  small  producer, 
and  was  abandoned  after  a  short  time. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  these  first  wells  were  not  a  commercial  suc- 
cess, the  presence  of  oil  had  been  demonstrated,  and  developments  soon 
after  undertaken  to  the  east  of  the  discovery  wells  were  more  successful. 
The  earlier  wells  were  mostly  drilled  north  of  the  railroad,  and  these 
wells  were  very  shallow,  from  80  to  150  feet  in  depth.  They  were 
drilled  with  portable  rigs  and  only  the  lightest  of  casing,  and  while 
developments  were  slow  at  first,  in  a  later  period  holes  were  punched 
down  very  rapidly,  sometimes  at  the  rate  of  two  or  three  a  week. 


Wells   on    Summerland    Beach,    Santa    Barbara    Countv 


Summerland  Wells,  from  K,   T.   &  O.  Wharf. 


SANTA    BARBARA    COAST.  409 

It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  dip  of  the  sands  was  to  the  south,  that 
is,  toward  the  ocean,  and  drilling  was  rapidly  carried  in  this  direction, 
first  across  the  railroad,  then  to  the  beach  under  the  bluff,  and  finally 
into  the  ocean  itself.  The  beach,  of  course,  was  government  property, 
and  was  grabbed  by  the  first  comers,  so  that  here  there  were  a  large 
number  of  very  small  holdings,  as  was  the  case  on  the  land  side,  where 
wells  were  drilled  on  town  lots.  At  one  time  there  were  upwards  of  one 
hundred  operators  in  this  small  field,  though  this  number  is  now 
diminished  to  about  a  dozen,  by  abandonment  and  by  consolidation  of 
properties. 

The  wells  to  the  north  of  the  railroad  were  soon  exhausted,  and  those 
farthest  north  had  been  pumped  out  and  abandoned  some  time  before 
the  last  of  the  ocean  wells  was  drilled.  To  both  east  and  west  the  sands 
continued,  but  the  productiveness  gradually  diminished,  very  gradually 
at  the  east,  rather  abruptly  on  the  west.  For  this  reason  the  wells 
farthest  east  lasted  but  a  short  time,  while  those  farthest  to  the  west  are 
still  producing  in  small  amounts. 

The  ocean  wells  were  unique  in  California,  and  perhaps  in  the  United 
States,  in  being  drilled  far  beyond  low  tide  line,  in  the  open  ocean.  The 
wharves  started  from  the  bluff,  about  ten  feet  above  beach  level,  and 
were  of  the  lightest  piling  construction,  with  only  a  suggestion  of 
planking.  In  starting  the  well,  a  section  of  large  casing  (conductor 
pipe)  was  driven  into  the  sand  to  shut  out  ocean  water,  and  inside  this 
the  well  was  drilled,  the  rig  being  set  on  temporary  planking  on  the 
wharf.  A  single  rig  sufficed  for  drilling  an  entire  string,  and  was  then 
osuaUy  left  for  cleaning  purposes,  the  finished  wells  being  put  on  the 
jack. 

The  longest  wharf,  1230  feet,  was  that  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail- 
road Company,  and  the  wells  farthest  out  on  this  wharf  were  at  least 
as  productive  as  those  closer  to  shore,  so  that  development  in  this 
direction  was  not  limited  by  a  failure  in  the  productiveness  of  the  sands. 
But  the  wharves  suffered  severely  during  the  winter,  and  were  found 
difficult  to  maintain  through  the  stormy  period,  the  wrecking  of  wharves 
broke  off  casings  below  water  level  and  admitted  great  quantities  of 
ocean  water  to  the  sands,  and  the  production  per  well  was  so  small  that 
the  cost  of  operation  prohibited  further  extension  in  this  direction, 
indeed  it  is  very  doubtful  whether,  in  most  cases,  the  original  cost  of 
these  wharves  and  lines  of  wells  was  ever  repaid.  The  drilling  of 
wharf  wells  therefore  ceased  about  the  year  1899,  and  several  of  the 
wharves  have  entirely  disappeared,  though  on  such  as  remain  most  of 
the  wells  are  still  being  operated. 

The  depth  of  the  Summerland  wells  varies  considerably,  though  all 
are  very  shallow  as  compared  with  the  depj;hs  reached  in  other  fields. 
North  of  the  railroad,  some  of  the  wells  were  as  little  as  sixty  feet,  and 


410  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

none  were  over  160  feet.  Between  the  railroad  and  the  beach  depths 
ranged  from  150  to  250  feet,  while  on  the  beach  and  the  wharves  most 
•of  the  wells  were  about  250  feet  on  the  land  side,  deepening  to  about  450 
feet  in  the  wells  farthest  out.  A  single  well  on  the  Southern  Pacific 
wharf  was  drilled  something  over  600  feet,  finding  gas  below  the  oil 
^ands. 

These  wells  were  drilled  entirely  in  soft  material — blue  shale,  clays 
and  sands.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  field  but  a  single  producing 
sand  was  found,  though  in  some  of  the  wells  there  were  several  thin 
sands  showing  traces  of  oil.  Along  the  beach,  and  in  the  Avharf  wells, 
two  or  sometimes  three  sands  were  found.  In  such  cases  the  heavier 
oils  were  found  in  the  upper  sands,  the  middle  grade  being  usually 
about  1°  Beaume  lighter,  with  a  corresponding  difference  between  the 
middle  and  the  lower  sand.  As  a  whole,  however,  the  grade  of  oil  pro- 
duced was  rather  uniform,  ranging  only  from  12.5°  to  16.5°  Beaume, 
and  all  of  the  same  general  character,  a  black  oil  similar  in  every 
respect  to  that  of  the  Kern  River  field. 

The  oil  was  found  in  thin  strips  of  loose  sand,  which  in  some  parts  of 
the  field  had  a  strong  tendency  to  run,  so  that  the  wells  produced  con- 
siderable sand  during  the  earlier  years.  As  is  natural,  this  tendency 
was  reduced  after  long  pumping,  and  now  but  little  sand  is  pumped 
with  the  oil.  While  water  was  struck  in  some  wells,  the  field  was,  in  the 
main,  fairly  dry  for  some  years.  There  appears  to  have  been  some 
encroachment  of  water  from  the  land  side,  but  still  more  on  the  side  of 
the  ocean,  for  as  wharves  were  wrecked,  many  casings  were  broken  off 
below  tide  level,  admiting  great  quantities  of  salt  water  to  the  sands.  So 
far  as  possible  these  wells  have  been  plugged,  but  now  even  the  best  wells 
as  a  rule  pump  more  water  than  oil.  This  water  separates  readily. 
The  oil  as  pumped  goes  to  a  stripping  box,  which  removes  most  of  the 
sand,  as  well  as  the  slugs  of  water.  The  partly  unwatered  oil  then  goes 
to  a  tank  where  it  is  heated  by  means  of  steam  coils,  and  settles  clear  in 
a  very  short  time. 

The  small  output  of  this  field  has  always  found  a  local  market,  and 
as  a  rule  at  a  price  materially  in  advance  of  that  realized  over  the 
state  at  large  for  the  same  grade  of  oil.  A  refinery  which  took  the  bulk 
of  the  production  was  operated  here  for  several  years,  but  was  removed 
some  two  years  ago.  Since  this  time  another  refinery  has  been  con- 
structed, which  now  takes  perhaps  half  the  output  of  the  field.  The 
balance  finds  a  market  in  Santa  Barbara  as  fuel,  and  through  the 
adjacent  district  for  road  oiling. 

On  the  land  side  of  the  field,  the  possibility  of  finding  a  lower  sand 
at  any  moderate  depth  has  been  clearly  disproven.  In  the  caiion  east  of 
Ortega  Hill,  the  Crescent  Oil  Company  drilled  in  1902,  to  a  depth  of 
1100  feet  without  finding  any  indication  of  oil.     This  well  went  nearly 


SANTA  BARBARA  COAST.  411 

or  quite  1000  feet  below  the  level  of  the  producing  sands,  which  came 
close  to  the  surface  at  this  point.  On  the  ridge,  one  quarter  mile  north 
of  the  railroad  depot,  Darling  &  Turner  drilled  a  520-foot  well,  which 
showed  only  traces  of  oil.  On  "Town  Hill,"  about  2000  feet  northeast 
of  the  railroad  depot,  Williams  &  Easton  drilled  a  well  some  1000  feet 
deep,  which  passed  through  gray  and  reddish  shales,  with  traces  of  oil  in 
the  shale  near  the  bottom.  This  well  reached  a  level  equivalent  to  about 
1200  feet  below  the  oil  sands  found  lower  down  the  hill.  Some  of  these 
upper  wells  showed  gas,  and  for  a  time  the  town  was  in  part  thus  sup- 
plied, but  the  supply  failed  rapidly.  Very  little  gas  accompanied  the 
oil  farther  doAvn. 

To  the  east  the  nearest  prospect  hole  was  the  well  noted  above,  drilled 
by  Churchill  &  Weber.  While  this  well  showed  some  indications  of  the 
producing  sands  persevering  in  this  direction  (along  the  strike  of  the 
formation)  the  prospects  for  profitable  wells  have  never  seemed  to 
warrant  the  expense  of  development.  To  the  south,  as  mentioned  above, 
the  field  is  limited  not  by  a  failure  in  productiveness  of  the  sands, 
but  by  the  excessive  expense  of  maintenance  of  wharf  wells.  It  would 
therefore  seem  that  there  are  at  present  no  prospects  whatever  for  an 
•extension  of  the  Summerlaud  pool,  unless  possibly  by  the  finding  of  a 
<leeper  sand  along  the  beach.  The  drilling  of  a  deep  test  hole  here  has 
often  been  discussed,  but  it  has  to  this  time  been  found  impracticable  to 
lie  up  enough  surface  to  justify  the  cost  of  the  test. 

Statistics.  The  number  of  wells  in  this  little  pool  is  so  large,  and  their 
individual  productiveness  so  small,  that  a  detailed  account  of  operations 
would  be  tedious.  It  will  suffice  to  give  a  brief  resume  of  the  extent  of 
development  at  various  stages,  and  of  the  present  condition  of  the  field. 

The  first  recorded  production  for  the  field  was  in  the  year  1894,  when 
1800  barrels  were  produced.  The  number  of  wells  in  operation  during 
that  year  is  not  known. 

In  the  year  1895  there  were  28  producing  wells,  all  but  four  of  which 
were  north  of  the  railroad.  The  production  for  that  year  was  16,904 
T^arreLs,  or  an  average  of  1.65  barrels  per  well  per  day.  This  average  is 
quite  different  from  the  production  estimates  given  in  the  reports  of  that 
date,  which  run  from  6  to  10  barrels  per  day,  and  it  is  likely  that  all  the 
wells  were  not  operated  for  the  full  year,  though  even  with  this  allow- 
ance, the  production  of  these  wells  north  of  the  railroad  could  never 
have  been  more  than  three  barrels,  daily  average. 

In  1896  there  were  53  producing  wells,  of  which  27  were  north  of  the 
i-ailroad,  and  26  between  the  railroad  and  the  beach.  The  production 
for  that  year  was  39,792  barrels,  or  an  average  of  2.06  barrels  per  well 
per  day. 

In  1897  the  production  of  the  field  went  up  to  130,136  barrels,  in  1898 
to  132,217  barrels,  and  in  1899  to  208,370  barrels.     During  these  years 


412  PETROLEUM    IN    SOUTPIERN    CALIFORNIA. 

the  development  of  the  field  reached  its  limit,  but  the  number  of  wells 
in  operation  is  nowhere  recorded. 

In  June,  1900,  Mr.  W.  L.  Watts  reports  305  producing  wells,  59 
abandoned  holes,  and  15  wells  drilling.  The  production  for  this  year 
dropped  off  slightly,  to  183,486  barrels.  Based  on  the  number  of  wells 
in  operation  at  the  above  date  (June,  1900),  the  average  production 
per  well  per  day  in  1899  would  be  1.87  barrels,  and  in  1900,  1.65  barrels. 
In  1901  the  production  again  rose  to  203,616  barrels,  but  in  view  of 
the  heavy  decline  the  next  year,  the  figure  is  open  to  suspicion.  In 
1902,  the  year  of  the  greatest  stagnation  in  the  oil  market,  the  output 
was  only  94,550  barrels. 

When  visited  by  the  writer  in  December,  1903,  a  total  of  412  wells 
was  found,  of  which  198  were  producing  and  100  abandoned,  while 
114  were  rigged  for  pumping  but  not  then  in  operation.  All  the  wells 
north  of  the  railroad  were  either  idle  or  abandoned  at  that  time,  but 
on  the  beach  and  wharves  most  of  the  wells  were  in  operation,  except  at 
the  extreme  east,  and  where  wharves  had  been  allowed  to  go  to  wreck. 
The  production  for  the  field  for  this  year  is  given  at  131,000  barrels, 
or  an  average  of  1.82  barrels  per  well  per  day. 

When  visited  during  the  early  part  of  1910,  all  the  wells  north  of 
the  railroad  had  been  abandoned.  A  count  of  the  field  showed  a  total 
of  440  wells,  of  which  175  were  producing  and  265  had  been  abandoned. 
Of  the  producers  remaining,  121  were  wharf  wells,  and  54  land  wells. 
No  drilling  had  been  done  in  a  long  time,  except  in  the  way  of  repairs. 
Fourteen  north  and  south  wharves  and  three  connecting  wharves  were 
found,  all  in  a  more  or  less  damaged  condition.  The  production  for 
this  year  was  75,050  barrels,  or  an  average  of  1.18  barrels  per  well 
per  day. 

In  January,  1912,  the  same  number  of  wells  was  found,  but  the 
number  of  producers  had  shrunk  to  133,  while  a  total  of  307  had  been 
abandoned.  At  this  time  the  monthly  production  was  very  close  to 
6,000  barrels,  or  an  average  of  1.50  barrels  per  well  per  day,  the 
increase  in  average  production  being  due  to  systematic  cleaning  and 
repairing  operations  carried  out  during  the  last  two  years,  and  still 
under  way. 

The  refinery  of  the  California  Liquid  Asphalt  Company  was  operated 
at  the  western  end  of  the  field,  close  to  the  Potomoc  lease,  from  1901 
to  1910,  at  which  latter  time  it  was  removed  to  Hadley,  San  Luis  Obispo 
County.  In  the  succeeding  year  a  refinery  was  constructed  by  the 
B.  S.  Bennett  Refining  Company,  which  is  still  in  operation,  making 
asphalt  and  heavy  distillate.  This  plant  takes  perhaps  half  the  output 
of  the  field,  the  balance  finding  a  market  in  Santa  Barbara  as  fuel, 
and  through  the  adjacent  district  for  road  oiling. 


SANTA    BARBARA    COAST.  413 

QUALITY  OF  SUMMERLAND  OILS. 

The  following  analj'ses  will  show  plainly  the  character  of  the  crude 
produced  from  these  sands.  It  will  be  seen  that  these  oils  are  normal 
asphaltic  oils,  rather  low  in  sulfur,  as  a  rule,  and  high  in  asphalt,  but 
otherwise  quite  similar  to  Valley  oils  of  equal  gravity,  and  to  Los 
Angeles  City  oil.  Only  a  few  anah'-ses  are  given,  as  the  range  of  either 
gravity  or  quality  is  very  slight  indeed : 

6456* 

Sunset    Oil    Company.     Average    Sample. 

Gravity  12.7°  Beaume 

This  is  a  thick  oil  of  a  black  color  with  a  slight  brownish  shade  and  with  a  mild 
odor. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P.  • 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  300  c.c,   distilled  from  copper,   first  cut  dry,  second  cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 23.6  per  cent  33.2°  Beaume 

Second  cut 65.0  per  cent  17.3° 

Fixed  carbon 11.4  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  gas,  and  calculation  of  the  coke  to 
asphalt,  the  following  commercial  analysis  is  shown : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  23.6  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.0°  21.1  per  cent  )  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 13.2°  26.8  per  cent  \  17.3° — 47.9% 

Asphalt   "D"  28.5  per  cent,  or  100.0  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  stove  oil  from  this  run  was  pale  and  of  low  bloom,  but  was  very 
rank  with  sulfur,  and  after  treatment  had  still  a  strong  and  pungent 
odor.  It  was  evidently  badly  decomposed,  probably  in  part  at  least  by 
the  excess  of  sulfur,  which  crystallized  out  in  the  condenser  during 
distillation. 

The  lubricating  distillate  was  of  a  rich  color  and  high  viscosity,  and 
the  reduced  stock  also  had  a  high  viscosity,  but  was  rather  dark. 
No  paraffin  shows  in  the  distillate  from  either  this  sample  or  No.  6455. 

7406* 

Sea    Cliff   Oil    Company.     Average    Sample. 

Gravity 14.9°  Beaum6 

Viscosity  at  185°  F 3.91  Redwood 

Sulfur 0.44  per  cent  by  weight 

Thermal  value 18,626  British  thermal  units 

♦Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


414  PETROLEUM    IN   SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Distillation. 

A  sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  392°  F 1.0  per  cent 

392  to  482° 10.0  per  cent  34.4°  Beaume 

482  to  572° 17.4  per  cent  28.4° 

572°  to  grade 45.5  per  cent  19.8° 

Asphalt    23.5  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Water  and  loss 2.6  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

These  figures  are  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaumg  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  1.0  per  cent  (probably) 

Stove  oil 33°  13.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants—  21.9°  59.9  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  23.5  per  cent 

Water  and  loss 2.6  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

6455* 

Duquesne   Oil   Company.     Average  Sample. 

Gravity 15.1^   Beaum6 

This  is  a  moderately  thick  oil,  of  a  brownish-black  color,  and  mild  odor. 
Distillation. 

A  sample  of  300  c.c,   distilled  from  copper,   first  cut  dry,  second   cut  in  a 
current  of  gas.     Distillation  carried  to  a  residue  of  dry  coke. 

First  cut 17.6  per  cent  33.0°  Beaumg 

Second  cut 73.2  per  cent  17.7° 

Fixed  carbon 9.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 

On  reduction  of  the  last  cut  in  gas,  and  calculation  of  the  coke  to 
asphalt,  we  have  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaum§  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil —  33°  17.6  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.0°  18.4  per  cent  )  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 13.8°  41.0  per  cent  \  17.7°— 59.4% 

Asphalt  "D"  23.0  per  cent,  or  80.7  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  stove  oil  from  this  crude  was  pale,  with  slight  bloom,  and  very 
sweet.  The  heavy  distillate  was  also  of  good  color,  with  a  rich  green 
outer  tone,  and  very  little  burned.  The  reduced  stock  was  pale  and  had 
a  slight  bluish  cast,  and  only  a  fair  viscosity  in  spite  of  the  low  gravity. 

♦Analysis  by  J.  P.  P. 


SAXTA   BARBARA    COAST. 


415 


2498* 

Summerland    Crude.     A    mixture. 

Gravity 15.1'  Beaume 

Distillation. 

A.  sample  of  100  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas.     Second 
cut  reduced  to  an  18.0°  stock  in  vacuum.     The  original  runs  are  : 
Crude  oil. 

Below  302°  F None 

302  to  572° 10.0  per  cent  35.4°  Beaume 

572°  to  asphalt — a 25.0  per  cent  24.3° 

572°  to  asphalt— b 29.S  per  cent  22.2° 

Asphalt    35.2  grams  per  100  c.c. 

100.0  per  cent 
Cuts  2  and  3  from  above. 

Fuel  distillate 16.4  per  cent  33.4°  Beaum§ 

Reduced  stock 38.4  per  cent  18.0" 

54.8  per  cent 
On  bringing  these  figures  together,  they  give  the  following  commercial 
analysis : 

Gasoline 61°  Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42°  None 

Stove  oil 33°  15.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 33.4°  11.4  per  cent 

Reduced   stock   18.0°  38.4  per  cent 

Asphalt   "D"  35.2  per  cent,  or  123.6  lbs.  per  bbL 


100.0  per  cent 
7407.t 
Potomoc   Oil   Company.     Well    No.    Daniels  4. 

Gravity  15.8°  Beaume 

Viscosity  at  180°  F 3.20  Redwood 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c,  distilled  from  a  glass  flask  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below  392°  F 3.0  per  cent  43.2-' Beaume 

392  to  482° 9.9  per  cent  34.0° 

482  to  572° 15.4  per  cent  27.1° 

572°  to  grade 48.0  per  cent  23.1° 

Asphalt    22.8  per  cent  Grade  "D"  (about) 

Loss   0.9  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 
These  figures  are  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis: 

Gasoline 61°  Beaum6  None 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene 42"  4.0  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  9.0  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants—  24.1°  63.0  per  cent  (not  separated) 

Asphalt   "D"  23.0  per  cent 

Loss 1.0  per  cent 

100.0  per  cent 

♦Analysis  by  Wayne  Colver. 
tAnalysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper. 


ADDITION  TO  CHAPTER  IV. 

Quality  of  the  Empire  oils. 

But  three  analyses  are  available  of  oils  from  the  Empire  group  ot 
wells,  and  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  these  adequately  represent 
the  range  of  qualities.  Some  of  the  wells  of  this  group  are  reported 
to  produce  a  much  lighter  oil,  but  no  samples  have  ever  been  obtainable. 

These  oils,  though  differing  considerably  in  gravity,  are  of  strikingly 
similar  appearance  and  behavior.  Thej^  are  much  less  black  than 
the  oils  of  either  Bardsdale  or  Silverthread,  having  a  strong  green 
tinge  which  is  practically  the  same  in  the  24  gravity  oil  as  in  that  of 
35°  Beaume.  They  are  unusually  limpid  and  somewhat  more  trans- 
parent than  most  of  the  black  oils,  and  have  a  mild  odor  resembling 
that  of  finished  kerosene. 

These  oils  run  high  in  asphalt  for  the  gravity,  and  low  in  middle 
oils.  The  lubricating  stock  cracks  considerably,  and  runs  low  in  vis- 
cosity and  of  a  bluish  shade.  The  principal  value  of  these  oils  is  at 
at  the  light  end.  but  on  the  whole  they  are  desirable  refining  oils  for 
the  gravity. 

44:!4* 
Empire    Oil    Company.      Wells    Nos.    1    and   2. 

Gravity 24.0°   Beaume 

This  is  a  very   limpid   oil,  of  olive-black  color  and   mild  rather  flat  odor. 
DistiUatio7i. 

Sample  of  150  c.c,  distilled  from  copper,   first  three  cuts  dry,   last  cut  in   .i 
current  of  inert  gas.     Distillation  to  dry  coke. 

First    cut    14.8  per  cent  51.1°   Beaume 

.Second    cut    10.3  per  cent  42.0° 

Third   cut    16.1  per  cent  33.5° 

Fourth    cut    .51.5  per  cent  23.6° 

Fixed  carbon 7.3  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil. 

100.0 
The    carbon    is    calculated    to    the    corresponding    weight    of    "l)"    asphalt    by    th.^ 
usual  factor,  and  the  last  cut  reduced  in  a  stream  of  gas.     This  gives  the  following 
commercial  analysis  : 

Gasoline    61°   Beaume  None 

Engine  distillate " 52°  13  per  cent 

Kerosene     .  42°  14  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  14  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 29.2°  13.8  per  cent/  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 17.3°  26.9  per  cent  i;  23.6° — 40.7% 

Asphalt "D"  18.3  per  cent  or  64  lbs.  per  b"bl. 

100.0  per  cent 
The  light  products  from  this  oil  treat  only  fairly  well,  giving  oils  of 
very  mild  odor,  but  not  coming  to  color  properly  with  the  test  acid. 

♦Analysis  by  J.   P.   P. 

28—63 


418  PETHOLEl'AI    IN    SOITTHERN    CALIFORNIA. 

Tlio  lubricatiiii:- ".stock  breaks  down  badly  in  the  crude  distillation,  and 
iiives  a  very  bluish  distillate,  which  reduces  to  a  stock  of  the  same 
color.  The  test  acid  did  not  take  hold  of  this  stock,  and  it  gave  an 
engine  oil  of  18.8°  gravity,  low  viscosity,  and  very  dark  color. 

The  yield  of  engine  distillate  from  this  oil  is  rather  surprising,  and 
it  is  i)n)babl('  that  a  test  of  a  larger  quantity  w^ould  show  some  gaso- 
line, though  tlicr-e  can  not  be  very  much.  This  anal,^^sis  is  only  fair 
for  an  oil  of  this  gravity. 

741S* 
Empire   Oil    Company.     Timber   Canon    No.   3. 

Gravity 35.1°  Beauine 

Viscosity  at  60°  Fahr 1.66  Redwood  (water,  1) 

MsQosity  at  180°  Fahr 1.13  Redwood   (water,  1) 

Flash  Point   Below  60°    Fahr.,  Abel-Pensky  test 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  200  c.c.  distilled  from  glass,  without  steam  or  gas. 

Below   212°    Fahr 15.3  per  cent  70.0°  Beaume 

212  to  302° 15.0  per  cent         51.3° 

302  to  392° 9.5  per  cent         43.2° 

392  to  182° 9.5  per  cent         38.2° 

482  to  572° 9.9  per  cent         32.5° 

572°    to   grade — —  28.0  per  cent         27.6° 

Asphalt 10.6  per  cent  Grade   "D"    (about) 

Loss 1.8  per  cent 

100.0 
This  is  roughly  equivalent  to  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoline    01°  Beaume  31  per  cent 

Engine  distillate 52°  None 

Kerosene    42°  14  per  cent 

Stove  oil - 35°  14  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate  and  lubricants--  27.6°  28  per  cent  not  separated. 

Asphalt 11  per  cent 

Loss    2  per  cent 

100  per  cent 
44:;iv 
Empire    Oil    Company.      Lease    Average. 

Gravity  29.4°   Beaume      . 

This  is  a  very  limpid  oil,  of  an  olive-black  color,  and  mild  odor.  | 

Distillation. 

Sample  of  150  c.c.  distilled  from  copper,  first  four  cuts  dry,  last  cut  in  a  cur- 
rent of  gas.     Distillation  to  dryness. 

First  cut 9.0  per  cent  63.0°   Beaume  . 

Second  cut 11.0  per  cent  52.0° 

Third  cut 18.0  per  cent  41.4° 

Fourth  cut 8.3  per  cent  32.5° 

Fifth    cut    49.1  per  cent  23.0° 

Fixed  carbon 4.0  grams  per  100  c.c.  oil. 


100.0 


'Analysis  by  H.  N.  Cooper 
fAnalysls  by  ,J.  P.  P. 


ADDITION'    TO    CHAPTER   IV.  419 

The  carbon  is  calculated  to  asphalt  by  the  usual  factor,  and  the  last  cut  reduced 

in  a  stream  of  inert  gas,  giving  the  following  commercial  analysis : 

Gasoliue     61°   Beaume  12.0  per  ceut 

Engine  distillate 52=  6.0  per  cent 

Kerosene 42°  20  per  cent 

Stove  oil 33°  8  per  cent 

Fuel  distillate 30.2°  22.5  per  ceut  ^  Slop  distillate 

Reduced  stock 14.8°  20.0  per  cent )  23.0°^2.5% 

Asphalt "D"  11.5  per  cent  or  40  lbs.  per  bbl. 

100.0  per  cent 

The  light  products  from  this  oil  refine  better  than  those  from  the 
heavier  crude,  giving  good  colors  and  odors  with  the  test  acid. 

The  heavy  stock  breaks  badly,  and  gives  distillate  with  low  viscosity, 
but  the  reduced  stock  takes  the  acid  fairlj'  well,  giving  a  red  oil  of 
18.8°  Beaume,  with  fair  red  color,  good  outertoue,  and  medium  vis- 
cosity. This  stock,  however,  can  not  be  considered  of  much  value,  but 
the  light  end  of  the  crude  shows  up  well  and  makes  the  oil  as  a  whole 
n  o'ood  oil  for  its  gravitv. 


Ex-Mission   crudes,    58    to    74.  Sansinena  crude,    309,   310, 

Eureka  Caiion   crudes.    147   to   149.  I  Santa   Ana    Oil   Co.,    189. 


\RATIVE  TABULATION   SHEET. 


,.'JX. 

WelU 

.K. 

.0. 

^ 

HAS 

ED  ON  PEODUCnVB  WELLS  ONLY. 

HEAVIEST  eUUDE  SAMPLE. 

LIGHTEST  CI.UDE  SAMPLE. 

,...„„.._„^™,„„._.„,.,^ 

TUM. 

w 

xs 

HE. 

« 

fBs. 

rss 

-'■                      "^ 

S'iS. 

S- 

m 

~ 

ai- 

p1f£' 

C.„. 

-- 

«,. 

~ 

m 

f.'tS' 

jSffi. 

Zzl 

""""" 

renU,m  Counte— 

11 

46 

i 
1 

1 

0 

i 
1 

22 

i 

10 
23 

1 

13 

I 

1 

r 

B 

B. 

Mar. 
Mar. 

•II 

;ll 
ill 
•II 

,1912 
.1912 

is 

s 

■s 

240 
5§S 

160 

iS-^!!.^.'!.:::::: 

Sii 

11.1. 
B 

Cl6" 

--iT 

J 

0 

0 

0 

'^ :^- 

Black  

27.2 

i 

27;6 

M 

0.7 

'""u 

— -Q-.r 

27 
11 

i 

18 

4 

a 
\l 
I 

] 

0 
9 

7 

14 

17 
26 

11 
10 

I    2 

i"  i 

£    II 

46           18 
64           23 

'No  actual  production  of  this  grade,    ^i  lighter  oil.  33«  to  35°. 
covered,  no  production  as  yet. 

■Similar  to  Ojai  oil— no  production.    -Heported  as  light,  gassy 

production. 
'Straight  lubricating  stock;  little  asphalt:  no  light  products. 

'Probably  high  estimate,  Weils  very  mucli  scattered. 

■Insufllcient  development  for  estimate    'Much  new  work  since 

■Wells  brought  in  during  year-no  average  possible 
■Approximate  only. 

'Estimate  very  rough:  wells  much  scattered. 

'Division  Santa  Maria  (old  field)  and  Cat  Canyon:  estimate  only 
'Mostly  gusher  production  in  1911;  average  per  well  in  1912. 

'All  figures  for  1910-very  little  change  to  1912. 

Brown-black 

Black    

Brown-black....... 

saofrpauit  Canyon::::::: 

Greon-black   

Brownish 

?Sa,v-::::::::::::::::::: 

Black    

Black 

i^iiz ------------ 

— 

0 

0 

""■""1 

"""""i" 

83 

20- 

17 

Black  

Brown-black 

Black   . 

Green   

Greenish 

134 

i 

i 
1 

401 
94 

16 

1 
0 

1 

Mar. 
Mar. 

1912 
.1912 

■E 

:S" 
■II 

i,ig 

'Ifo. 

11.2 

--iB- 

499,082 
874,519 

lii 

lii 

148" 

3,141 

1,650 

""■'"i]i 

4.25 

lii 
"'"If 

1:ii 

Lot  A«geleg  County— 

Brown-black  

i6;4 

fil 

12.7 

0.9 

0 

0 

» 

73 

27 

Green  black  

23.1 
30.7 
34.5 

0.7 

— "D:r 

8 
25 

5 
0 

1? 
27 

1 

14 

— -fs" 

t:J 

0 
0 

0 

t 

i 

0 
10 

62 
74 
71 

60 
1 

1 
•26 

29 
1 

Green-black  

Brown-black 

Brown-black ::::::: 

27.6 
15.5 

16.8 

0.4 

iii 

1.6 
4.5 

0.9 

15 
15 

16 

14 

9 
0 

1 
18 

i 

46 
73 

1? 
8 

33 
23 

Scattering 

1,190 

1 
175 

1,369 

69 
25 

1 

111 

Si 
I 

6,000 

2.900 

SO 

aao 

11,251,286 
5.670,074| 

'ii' 

2,260 
1.955 
1,426 

9,455 
28,209 

26.90 
77.28 
1.10 

Santa  Maria  and  Casmalla 

faS: 

Jan! 

.1912 

ill 
,1912 

Oat  Canyon .. 

Black    

426 

385 

32 

„ 

10.4 

7,536,329 

1,709 

17,691 

48.47 

INDEX. 


Abbott   tract,    well,    230. 

Acquila  Oil   &  Mineral   Co.,    87. 

Adams  Canon  wells,    5-1. 

Aetna   Oil   Co.,    15  8. 

Ahnlauf   tract  wells,    86. 

Alamo   claim   wells,    99. 

Alger   &   Gilmore   well,    174. 

Alhambra    claim    wells,    102. 

Aliso  Canon  wells,   35,   51. 

Allen,  F.  H.,  wells,  87. 

Alliance   Oil   Co.,    176. 

Alison  &  Barlow  well,  332. 

Alpine   Oil   Co.,    172. 

Amalgamated   Oil    Co..    219,    223,    225. 

American   Petroleum   Co.,    224. 

Anaconda  Oil   Co.,    101. 

Anaheim   wells,    274,    277. 

Analysis,    oil,    methods    of,    9. 

Adams  Caiion  crude,   65  to  68. 

Aloha   Oil   Co.    crude,    120,    121. 

Amalgamated    Oil    Co.,    Anaheim,    278 

Arcturus  Oil  Co.,   237,   239. 

Bard  Oil  &  Asphalt  Co.,   48,   82. 

Bardsdale    Crude    Oil    Co.,    128. 

Bardsdale    oils,    128    to    132. 

Bastanchury    crude,    278. 

Big  Sespe  Oil  Co.   of  Cal.,   105. 

Birch  Oil  Co.,    311,   319. 

Brea   Canon    Oil   Co..    315,    317. 

Brooks  Oil  Co.,  392,  395. 

Brownstone   Oil  &  Refg.   Co.,    114. 

Burrows,   C.   A.,    58,    59. 

California   Oil   Co.,    109,    110. 

Capital  Crude  Oil  Co.,    80,    81,   84,    85. 

Canadian    Queen    Oil    Co.,    Tapo,    151. 

Castaic  crude,    182. 

Cat   Canon   crude,    392    to    395. 

Central  claim,    Sespe,    110. 

Clampitt  Bros.,  Sespe,  109,  110. 

Clampitt,    E.    B.,    209. 

Clark  &  Sherman   Land  Co.,   244,   245. 

Clark  Oil  Co.,  245. 

Columbia  Oil   Prod.   Co.,   312. 

Connell,    D.   A.,    192. 

Cons.    Crude    Oil    Co.,    211. 

Cosmopolitan  Oil  Co.,  115. 

Coyote  crude,   278,   279. 

Davis   &   Harrison.    212.    215. 

Delaware  Union  Oil  Co.,  310. 

Dewitt    Caiion    crude,    188. 

Dome  Oil  Co.,  Santa  Maria,  373. 

Dome    Oil   Co.,    Blochman,    392. 

Doran,  Brouse  &  Price,   211. 

Duquesne   Oil   Co.,    414. 

East  Field  crudes   (L.  A.),   214. 

Elsmere   crudes,    190    to    193. 

Empire  Oil  Co.,  416. 

Ex-Mission   crudes,    58    to    74. 

Eureka  Caiion  crudes,    147   to   149. 


Fidelity   Oil   Co.,    265. 

Four    Forks    crude,    115. 

FuUerton  Cons.  Oil  Co.,  309,  314. 

Fullerton  Oil  Co.,   320,   321. 

Gilmore    Oil    Co.,    242. 

Graham-Loftus  Oil  Co.,  310,  315.. 

Grimes  tract  crudes,   130. 

Hall  &  Hall  Oil  Co.,  368. 

Harris  (C.C.)   Oil  Co.,  122,  212. 

Hawkswing   crudes,    112. 

Hill   tract  crude.    351. 

Home  Oil  Co.,   262,  266.  267. 

Hopper  Canon  crudes,   119   to   121. 

Industrial   Oil   Co.,    309,    314. 

Kentuck  crude,  108. 

Lewis   &  Jones  Oil   Co.,    89. 

Loma  Oil  Co.,   416. 

Los   Angeles    (Sespe)    crude,    113. 

Los   Angeles   city   crudes,    207    to   215. 

Los   Angeles  Railway   Co..    207. 

Midway   Petroleum   Co.,    61. 

Modelo  Oil  Co.,  143,  144. 

Mud  Springs  Caiion  crudes,   192,   194. 

Murphy  Oil  Co.,   Coyote,   2  79. 

Murphy  Oil  Co.,   Whittier,   267  to  271. 

New  Penn  Petroleum  Co.,  369,  371. 

Nettleton  &  Kellerman  Oil  Co.,   194. 

Newhall  Canon  crudes,    189,   191,   192. 

Ojai    Oil    Co.,    48. 

Pacific    Petroleum    Co.,    240. 

Palmer   Oil   Co.,    393.    394. 

Park   Crude    Oil    Co.,    210. 

Parker  Oil  Co.,   208. 

Paula  Oil  Co..   89. 

Pearl  Oil  Co..   191.   192. 

Petroleum    Devt.    Co.,    311,    313,    314, 

316,    322,    323,    324,    325. 
Pico  Caiion  crudes,  183  to  188. 
Pico  Oil  Co.,   318. 
Pinal    Oil    Co.,    368,    369,    370,    372. 
Pirie  tract  crude,  33. 
Pitcher  &  Garbutt  Oil  Co.,  242,  244. 
Proudflt   &   Parker,    213. 
Potomac   Oil   Co.,    415. 
Puente  Oil  Co.,  Olinda,  320,   321. 
Puente  Oil  Co.,   Puente,   287  to   293. 
Pyramid  Oil  Co.,   82,   83. 
Rancho  La  Brea  Oil  Co.,  235,   238. 
Razzle   Dazzle   wells,    109,    110. 
Rice  Ranch  Oil  Co.,   371. 
Robertson   tract   crude,    129. 
Rosedale    Cemetery    crude,    243. 
Rose    Oil    Co.,    182. 
Salt  Lake  crudes,  235  to  245. 
Salt  Lake   Oil   Co.,    236,    240,    241. 
Saltmarsh  Caiion  Oil  Co.,  62  to  64. 
San   Cayetano   crudes.    416. 
Sansinena  crude,    309,   310,   318. 
Santa  Ana   Oil   Co.,    189. 


INDEX. 


Abbott  tract,   well,   230. 

Acquila  Oil   &  Mineral  Co.,    87. 

Adams  Canon  -wells,    54. 

Aetna   Oil   Co..    158. 

Ahnlauf  tract  wells,    86. 

Alamo   claim  wells,    99. 

Alger   &   Gilmore   well,    174. 

Alhambra    claim    wells,    102. 

Aliso  Canon  wells,   35,   51. 

Allen,  F.  H.,  wells,  87. 

Alliance   Oil   Co.,    176. 

Alison  &  Barlow  well,  332. 

Alpine   Oil  Co.,    172. 

Amalgamated   Oil   Co..    219,    223,    225. 

American    Petroleum   Co.,    224. 

Anaconda  Oil   Co..    101. 

Anaheim   wells,    274.    277. 

Analysis,    oil,    methods    of,    9. 

Adams  Canon  crude,   65  to  68. 

Aloha   Oil   Co.   crude,    120,    121. 

Amalgamated    Oil    Co.,    Anaheim,    278 

Arcturus   Oil  Co.,   237,   239. 

Bard  Oil  &  Asphalt  Co.,   48,   82. 

Bardsdale    Crude    Oil    Co.,    128. 

Bardsdale   oils,    128   to    132. 

Bastanchury    crude,    278. 

Big  Sespe  Oil  Co.   of  Cal.,   105. 

Birch  Oil  Co.,   311,   319. 

Brea   Caiion   Oil   Co.,    315,    317. 

Brooks  Oil  Co.,  392,  395. 

Brownstone   Oil  &  Refg.   Co.,    114. 

Burrows,   C.   A.,   58,   59. 

California   Oil   Co.,    109,    110. 

Capital   Crude  Oil  Co.,    80,    81,    84,    85. 

Canadian    Queen    Oil    Co.,    Tapo,    151. 

Castaic  crude,    182. 

Cat   Canon   crude,    392    to    395. 

Central  claim,    Sespe,    110. 

Clampitt  Bros.,  Sespe,  109,  110. 

Clampitt.    E.    B.,    209. 

Clark  &  Sherman  Land  Co.,   244,   245. 

Clark  Oil  Co..  245. 

Columbia  Oil  Prod.   Co.,    312. 

Connell,   D.   A..    192. 

Cons.    Crude    Oil    Co.,    211. 

Cosmopolitan  Oil  Co.,  115. 

Coyote  crude,    278,   279. 

Davis   &   Harrison,    212,    215. 

Delaware  Union  Oil  Co.,   310. 

Dewitt    Caiion    crude,    188. 

Dome  Oil  Co..  Santa  Maria,  373. 

Dome    Oil   Co.,    Blochman,    392. 

Doran.   Brouse  &  Price,   211. 

Duquesne  Oil  Co.,   414. 

East  Field  crudes   (L.  A.),  214. 

Elsmere   crudes,    190    to    193. 

Empire  Oil  Co.,  416. 

Ex-Mission   crudes,    58    to    74. 

Eureka   Caiion  crudes.    147   to   149. 


314. 


121. 


Fidelity  Oil   Co..    265. 

Four    Forks    crude,    115. 

Fullerton  Cons.  Oil  Co.,  ; 

Fullerton  Oil  Co.,   320,   321. 

Gilmore    Oil    Co.,    242. 

Graham-Loftus  Oil  Co..  310,  31; 

Grimes  tract  crudes,   130. 

Hall  &  Hall  Oil  Co.,  368. 

Harris  (C.C.)   Oil  Co.,  122,  212. 

Hawkswing   crudes,    112. 

Hill   tract  crude,    351. 

Home  Oil  Co.,   262,  266,  267. 

Hopper  Caiion  crudes,   119  to 

Industrial  Oil   Co.,   309,    314. 

Kentuck  crude,  108. 

Lewis   &  Jones  Oil   Co.,    89. 

Loma  Oil  Co.,   416. 

Los   Angeles    (Sespe)    crude,    113. 

Los   Angeles   city   crudes,    207   to    215. 

Los  Angeles  Railway   Co..    207. 

Midway   Petroleum   Co.,    61. 

Modelo  Oil  Co.,  143,  144. 

Mud   Springs  Canon  crudes,   192,    194. 

Murphy  Oil  Co..   Coyote,   279. 

Murphy  Oil  Co..   Whittier,   267  to  271. 

New  Penn  Petroleum  Co.,  369,   371. 

Xettleton  &  Kellerman  Oil  Co.,  194. 

Xewhall  Caiion  crudes,    189,   191,   192. 

Ojai    Oil    Co.,    48. 

Pacific    Petroleum    Co.,    240. 

Palmer  Oil   Co.,   393.    394. 

Park   Crude    Oil    Co..    210. 

Parker  Oil  Co..   208. 

Paula  Oil  Co..   89. 

Pearl   Oil  Co.,   191,   192. 

Petroleum    Devt.    Co.,    311,    313,    314, 

316.    322,    323,    324.    325. 
Pico  Canon  crudes,  183  to  188. 
Pico  Oil  Co.,   318. 
Pinal   Oil   Co.,    368,    369,    370,    372. 
Pirie  tract  crude,  33. 
Pitcher  &  Garbutt  Oil  Co.,  242,   244. 
Proudfit   &   Parker,    213. 
Potomac   Oil   Co.,    415. 
Puente  Oil  Co.,  Olinda,   320,  321. 
Puente  Oil  Co..   Puente,   287  to   293. 
Pyramid  Oil   Co.,   82,   83. 
Rancho  La  Brea  Oil  Co.,   235,   23S. 
Razzle   Dazzle   wells,    109,    110. 
Rice  Ranch  Oil  Co.,   371. 
Robertson    tract   crude,    129. 
Rosedale    Cemetery   crude,    243. 
Rose    Oil    Co.,    182. 
Salt  Lake  crudes,  235  to  245. 
Salt  Lake   Oil   Co..    236,    240,   241. 
Saltmarsh  Canon  Oil  Co.,  62  to  64. 
San   Cayetano   crudes,    416. 
Sansinena  crude,    309,   310,   318. 
Santa  Ana   Oil   Co.,    189. 


422 


.     Santa  Maria   crudes,    368   to    378. 
Santa  Paula  Cafton  crudes,   71   to   74. 
Sea  CllfC  Oil  Co.,  403. 
Sespe    crudes,    108,    116. 
Shirley,   I.   W.,   210. 
Slocum  Oil  Co.,   71  to  74. 
South   Pacific   Oil   Co.,    147   to   149. 
.Standard  Oil  Co.,  Elsmere,  190  to  193. 
Pico,   183  to  188. 
Wiley,    189. 
Star  Oil   claim   crude,    111. 
Sulphur   Mountain   Petroleum   Co.,    39. 
Summerland   crudes,    413    to    415. 
Sunset  Oil  Co.,   Hopper  Caiion,   119. 
Sunset   Oil   Co.,    Summerland,    413. 
Tapo  Caiion  crudes,   150,  151. 
Tar  Creek  crudes,    105   to   107. 
Tar  Flat  crudes,   68  to   70. 
Timber   Canon   crude,    416. 
Torrey    crudes,    145,    146. 
Treasure   Realty   Co.,    368. 
Tunnel   Oils,    66,   72. 
Turner  Oil  Co.,   263,  264. 
Udall    claim    crude,    115. 
Union  Oil  Co.,  Adams,   65  to  68. 
Bastanchury,    278. 
Central,    110. 
Four    Forks,    115. 
Grimes,    130. 
Hawkswing,    112. 
Hill,    351. 
Kentuck,  108. 
Los   Angeles,    113. 
Robertson,    129. 
Saltmarsh,   60. 
Tapo,     150. 
Tar  Creek,    105. 
Tar   Flat,    68   to   70. 
Torrey,   145,   146. 
Warner  Oil   Co.,    266. 
Western  Union  Oil  Co.,  373  to  378. 
Westlake    Oil    Co.,    207. 
Whidden  Double  Oil  Co.,   47. 
"White  Star  Oil  Co.,   116. 
Whittier  Crude  Oil  Co.,   269,   270,  272, 

273. 
Whittier  Fillmore   Oil   Co.,    263. 
Wiley  Caiion  crude,   189. 
Zenith  Oil  Co.,   191. 
Anchor    Petroleum    Co.,    254. 
Angelina   Heights  well,    329. 
Anglo  California  Oil  Syndicate,  349. 
Apex    Oil    Co.,    179. 
Arcadia  claim  well,  96,  167. 
Arctic   Oil  Co.,   26,   333,   403. 
Arcturus  Oil  Co.,   223. 
Arizona  Oil   Co.,    93. 
Arrellanes   tract  wells,   365. 
Arroyo   Burro   well,    401. 
Arundell,   Thos.,   wells,   52. 
Asphalt,   by  calculation  from  choke,   16. 
Asphalt,    by    open    evaporation,    18. 
Asphalt,  by  vacuum  distillation,   IS. 
Asphaltene,    14. 


Associated  Oil  Co.,   Arrellanes,   365. 
■  Buell.  345. 

California   Coast,    360. 

K.scolle,   365. 

Fo.x,    345. 

Lewis,    386. 

Lucas,  359. 

Newhall,    365. 

Pezzoni,    343. 

Santa    Barbara,    400. 

Williams,    381. 

Zaca,   345. 

(See   also  Amalgamated   Oil   Co.) 
Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  R.  R.  wells, 

303. 
Atlanta   Oil   Co.,    35,   45. 
Azusa  wells,    334. 

Balboa   Oil   Co.,    235. 

Baldwin  Ranch  well,   258. 

Banner  Oil  Co.,   175. 

Barca  Oil  Co.,   346. 

Bard  Oil  &  Asphalt  Co.,  44,  46,  78. 

Bardsdale  wells,  123. 

Bardsdale  Caiion  Oil  Co.,  126. 

Bardsdale   Crude   Oil   Co.,    125. 

Bardsdale   Oil   Co.,    126. 

Bard,   T.   R.,   wells,    138. 

Bastanchury  wells,   276. 

Baume,    see    Beaume. 

Bay   tract   wells,    43,    44. 

Bear   Caiion   well,    178. 

Bear  Creek   Oil  &  Mining  Co.,    344. 

Belle  Vernon  Oil  Co.,  333. 

Bell    (John)    tract  wells,    343. 

Bell   Oil   Co.,    125. 

Bell   (Theresa)  tract  wells,  386. 

Belmont   claim   wells,    159. 

Berkeley  Oil  Co.,   136. 

Betteravia   wells,    342. 

Beverly    Hills,    196. 

Beverly   Hills  wells,    233. 

Big   Chief   Oil    Co.,    101. 

Big   Moses   well,    34  8. 

Big  Sespe  Oil  Co,   of  Ar.,   92. 

Big  Sespe  Oil  Co.   of  Cal.,    102. 

Birch  Oil  Co.,  297. 

Bixby    Ranch    wells,    327. 

Black  Jack  claim  wells,  96. 

Black   Pearl   Oil   Co.,    104. 

Blanchard  Caiion  "wells,   135. 

Bland  well,    197. 

Blockman    tract    wells,    384,    385. 

Bookhout   tract   wells,    124. 

Boston    Petroleum    Co.,    180. 

Boulder  Creek  Land  &  Oil  Co.,   118. 

Boyer,  R.  M.,  wells.   54. 

Boyle    Heights   wells,    197. 

Boyle  &   Thompson   well,    167. 

Bradley   Caiion   Oil   Co.,    382. 

Bradley    Oil    Co.,    118. 

Bradshaw    &    Beville,    169. 

Brashear   tract  wells,    231. 

Brea  Caiion  oil   field,    6,   294,   296. 


INDEX. 


423 


Brea   Canon    Oil    Co..    298. 

Brea  Canon,  see  also  Fullerton. 

Brooks    Oil   Co.,    380. 

Brook  well,   197. 

Brookshire   Oil  Co.,    355. 

Brownstone   Oil   &   Refg.    Co.,    103. 

Bryant  &  Co.  well.   320. 

Buckhorn  Oil  &  Mining  Co.,   119. 

Buekhorn   Oil   &   Transportation   Co.,    11 T. 

Buell   Ranch   Oil   Co.,    344. 

Buena   Vista  Oil   Co.,    286. 

Bulla  tract  well,  256. 

Bullock  tract  well,   349. 

Burhardt    tract   well,    234. 

Burrows,   C.   A.   &   Son  wells,    51. 

Burson  tract  wells,   126. 

Burton    tract    well,    346. 

Bush,    Hoff  &  Lombard  well,    345. 

Calabasas  Oil  Co.,  327. 
California  Coast   Oil   Co.,   Drum,    356. 
California  Coast  Oil  Co.,  Hartnell,  360. 
California  Crude   Oil  Co.,    88. 
California   Oil   Co.,   Xewhall.    170,    172. 
•   California   Oil    Co.,    Sespe,    102. 
California   Star  Oil  Co.,   159. 
Calleguas  wells,    152. 
Calumet  Oil  Co.,   127. 

Camarillo   Oil   Co.,    see  Dolton   &   Perkins. 
Camulos  claim   wells,    167. 
Camulos   Oil   &  Devt.   Co.,    139. 
Canada    del    Diablo    well,    27. 
Canada    Arena    well.    343. 
Canada  West  Oil  Co..  43,  46. 
Canadian   Pacific   Oil   Co.,    255. 
Canadian    Queen    Oil    Co.,    Tapo.    139. 
Canadian   Queen   Oil   Co.,   Ojai,   43,   46. 
Caiion  claim  wells,    11 S. 
Caiion  Oil  Co.,   180. 
Capitol    Crude    Oil    Co.,    78. 
Capitol   Crude   Oil   Co.,    Climax,    126. 
Carbon,   determination   of,    14. 
Carpenter   claim   well,    96. 
Carpinteria    Oil    Co.,    Carpinteria.    407. 
Carpinteria  Oil  Co..  Cat  Caiion,  379. 
Carter,   B.   F.,   wells,    326. 
Casitas   Pass  well,    26. 
Casitas   Station  well.    33. 
Casmalia   Petroleum    Co.,    342. 
Casmalia  Ranch  Oil   &  Devt.   Co.,   341. 
Castaic  Oil  Co.,   158. 
Castaic    Oil    Association,     158. 
Castaic   wells,    181. 
Cat  Caiion   oil  field,    7,    379. 
Cat  Caiion  Oil  Co.,  379. 
Cates  (H.G.)  Estate  wells,  118. 
C.   C.   Harris  Oil  Co.,   see  Harris. 
Central  claim  wells,   99. 
Central   field,   Los  Angeles,    201. 
Central   Oil   Co.,    251,    255.    258. 
Central  Union  Oil  Co.,  Bardsdale,   126. 
Central  Union  Oil  Co.,    Santa  Maria,    356. 
Central  Valley.    1. 
Cesapi   claim  wells,    97. 


Chance    wells,    330. 

Chandler   wells,    197. 

Chandler  Oil  Mining  Co.,   256. 

Channel   City   Oil   Co.,    406. 

Cheseborough  &  Goldner  well,    88. 

Chicago    Ferndale    Oil    Co.,    87. 

Chino   wells.    337. 

Chino  Valley   Beet   Sugar  Co.,    338. 

Chino  Land  &  Water  Co.,   338. 

Churchill    &   "^'eber,    402. 

Chicago    Petroleum    Co.,    87. 

Chillicothe   Oil  &  Mining  Co..    43. 

Chismahoo   Mountain  wells,    26. 

Clampitt    Bros.,    Newhall,    172. 

Clampitt    Bros.,    Kentuck,    100. 

Clampitt    Bros.,    Razzle    Dazzle,    102. 

Claremont    Oil    Co.,    365. 

Clarendon    Heights   Oil    Co.,    254. 

Clark  &   Sherman,    Towsley,    167. 

Clark  &  Sherman   Land  Co.,   222,   230. 

Clark,   Stevens  &  Duncan  well,   402. 

Climate,    Desert    Region,    1. 

Climate.    Central   Valley,    2. 

Climate,  Coast  Valleys,   2. 

Climate,    Pacifiic   Coast,    3. 

Climate,    Puente    Hills,    247. 

Climate,   Salt  Lake  oil  field.   216. 

Climate,    Southern    California,    4. 

Climate.    Ventura    County,    21. 

Climax    claim,    wells,    126. 

Climax    Oil    Co.,    330. 

Clyde    Jackson    Oil    Co.,    336. 

Coast  Valleys,   2. 

Coast  Section.  3. 

Coblentz  Oil  Co.,  356. 

Coke,  calculation  to  asphalt.  16. 

Collins,   Isaac,   well.   252. 

Colonia  Oil  Co.,  137. 

Colorado   Oil   Co.,    253. 

Colombia  Oil  Asphalt  &  Refining  Co..  4 

Columbia  Oil   Producing  Co.,   300,   306. 

Combined  Oil  Co.,  4  5. 

Commercial  Oil  Co.,  172. 

Commercial    Union    Oil    Co.,    391. 

Commonwealth   Oil   Co.,    250. 

Compton   wells,    332. 

Connection   claim   wells.    97. 

Connell,   D.   A.,   wells.    174. 

Consolidated  Midway  Chief  Oil  Co.,  167 

Consolidated   Petroleum   Corporation,    2 

Concord    Petroleum    Co.,    101. 

Continental   Oil   Co.,    307. 

Converse    tract    wells,    125. 

Cooper   Oil    Co.,    88. 

Cords    well,    338. 

Cornerstone    Oil    Co.,    296. 

Cosmopolitan    Oil    Co.,    102. 

Cottrell    dehydration    process,    34  7. 

Country  Club  wells,  234. 

Coyote  Creek  wells,  26. 

Coyote    Hills    Oil    Co.,    274. 

Coyote  Hills  wells,   274. 

Crawford,  Henley  &  Co.  wells,   92. 

Crescent   Oil   Co.,    410. 


424 


(^i-osvvrll  tract,  wells,   232. 

Crown    King   Oil    Co.,    136. 

(  rown  of  the  Valley  Oil  Co.,   297. 

Crown    Oil    Co.,    103. 

Crude  oil   analysis,   see  Anal.\-sis. 

Crude    Oil    Co.,    94. 

Cuneo    tract    w<"lls.    ITS. 

Daisy  claim  wells,    101. 

Davey   tract  wells,    43. 

DeArnaz   tract  wells,    229,    230. 

Delaware  Union  Oil  Co.,  299,   302. 

Delta  claim  wells,   102. 

Denker,    A.    H.,    234. 

Den  Ranch  wells,   398,  400. 

Denton  Oil  Co.,   406. 

Denver  Oil   Co.,    179. 

Desert  Region,  1. 

Desoto   Oil   Co.,    197. 

Despatch  Oil   Co.,    383. 

Development   Salt   Lake  oil   field,    226. 

DeWitt  Canon  wells,   166,   181. 

Diblee    Ranch    wells,    344. 

Dickerson    tract    wells,    141. 

Dietz    tract    wells,    87. 

Distillation   tests,   with   gas,    15. 

Dividend   Oil   Co.,    170. 

Dixie    National    Oil    Co.,    103. 

Dodson    well,    329. 

Dollar    Oil    Co.,    333. 

Dolton   &  Perkins,    152. 

Dome    Oil    Co.,    Blochman,    152. 

Dome   Oil    Co.,    Lompoc,    349. 

Dome  Oil  Co.,   Santa  Maria,  356. 

Dome    Oil    Co.,    Tognazinni,    391. 

Dome   Oil    Co.,    Wickenden,    343. 

Double,    Edward,    well,    42. 

Drexel  Oil  Co.,   401. 

Drilling   Conditions,    Cat   Canon,    381,    387. 

Drilling  Conditions,   Lompoc,   350. 

Drilling  Conditions,   Santa  Maria,   353. 

Drumm  tract  well,   356. 

Drying    heavy    oils,    301. 

Dunkelberger  well,    332. 

East    Canon    wells,    169,    181. 

East  Field,  see  Cat  Canon  and  L.  A.  City. 

East   Field    (Los  Ang.),    198. 

East  Los  Angeles  wells,    197. 

East  Piru   Oil  Co.,    158. 

East  Whittier  Oil   Co.,    258. 

Edison   Oil  Co.,   297. 

Edwards  Ranch  wells,  397,  399. 

Eefson   tract   wells,    347. 

Egan  Ranch  wells,   337. 

Eldridge,   Geo.    H.    22,    29,   41. 

Ellsio  tract  wells,    51. 

Elizalde  Oil  Co.,   342. 

Elk    Cons.    Oil    Co.,    102. 

Elkins  claim  well,    126. 

El  Moro  Oil  Co.,  251. 

Elsmere  Canon  wells,   170,    181. 

Empire   wells,    50,    88. 

Empire  Oil  Co.,   88. 


Emslie  Oil  Co.,    103. 

Enterprise  Oil  Co.,    176. 

Erie   Oil   Co.,    127. 

Escolle  tract  wells,  365. 

Esperanza   Cons.    Oil    Co..    348. 

Eureka    Canon    wells,    133,    137. 

Eureka  Crude   Oil   Co.,   Newhall,    172. 

Eureka  Oil  Co.,   Ventura,    137. 

Eureka  Oil  Co.,   Los  Angeles,    330. 

Ex   Mission  wells,    50. 

Extent    Cat    Canon    field,    289. 

Fairview   Cafion   well,    119. 
Far  East  Oil   Co.,    197. 
Farrell    &   Soule   wells,    52. 
Fay-Granger  Co.  well,   25  8. 
Federal   Oil   Co.,    348. 
Feldt,   B.  W.  well,   56. 
FermJale  Oil  &  Petr.   Co.,   87. 
Fidelity   Oil    Co.,    255. 
Fine  tract  well,   94. 
Fisher,   J.   K.,  well,   402. 
Fisher    Oil    Co.,    277. 

Flagstaff    Oil    Co..     93. 
Flash   Tests,    14. 
Fleisher  Oil   Co.,    87. 
Fleisher  tract  wells,    381. 
Folsom   tract  wells,    360. 
Forest   City   National    Oil    Co.,    56. 
Four  Forks  claim  wells,    99. 
Foxen    Oil    Co.,    391. 
Fox   &   O'Boy   well,    34  8. 
Fox    tract   wells,    359. 
Freeman  &  Nelson  White  Oil  Co.,    177. 
Fryer  tract  wells,   141. 
Fudicker   well,    330. 
Fugler  tract  well,   381. 
Fullerton  Cons.   Oil'Co.,   301. 
Pullerton    oil    field,    6,    294. 
Fullerton    Oil    Co.,    Whittier,    257. 

Brea   Caiion,    297. 

Fullerton,    306. 
Fullerton    Sunset   Oil    Co.,    338. 

Garbutt   Oil   Co.,    224. 

Garrett   tunnel,   52. 

Garvey   tract   wells,    333. 

Gas  in  Ventura  River  bed,    33. 

Gasson  well,    198. 

Gasson   &  Co.   well,    330. 

Gates  Oil  Co.,   43,   46. 

Gay  tract  well,  232." 

Gem  Oil   Co.,    349. 

Gillis    tract    wells,    233. 

Gilmore   Oil   Co.,    222. 

Gird   claim   well,    93. 

Gird  wells,   337,   338. 

Globe    Oil    Co.,    338. 

Golden   Gate   Oil   Co.,    Sespe,    103. 

Golden  Gate  Oil  Co.,  Whittier,  258. 

Golden  West  Crude  Oil  Co.,   103,   104. 

Golden   West   OH   Co.,    Santa  Paula,    85. 

Golden    West    OH    Co.,    Newhall,    175. 

Good,  F.  E.,  wells,   138. 

Good  Luck  Oil  Co.,   173. 


425 


Graciosa   Oil  Co.,    348,    361. 

Giador   Oil   Co.,    225. 

Graham-Loftus    Oil    Co.,    299.    302. 

Granite,  wells  in,  177. 

Grapevine  Caiion  Oil  Co.,   169. 

Grapevine    Caiion    well,    176. 

Graves  Oil  Co.,   173. 

Gravity,    corrections   for    temperature.    IJ 

Gravity  of  oil,   see  Analysis 

Grazide  tract  wells,   285. 

Great   West    Oil    Co.,    139. 

Greenlea   Oil   Co..    234. 

Green    Oil   Mining   Co..    54. 

Greve    tract   wells,    229. 

Grimes   &   Son  well,    126. 

Grimes  Caiion   wells,    124,    126. 

Grundy  Oil  Co.,  139. 

Guiberson    tract    wells,    127. 


Hall    &   Hall    Oil   Co.,    356. 
Hamilton  Gardner  Oil   Co.,    57. 
Hancock  tract  wells,  230. 
Happy  Thought  Oil  Co..    103. 
Hardison   &   Stewart.   DeWiit.    166. 

Ex-Mission,    34. 

Pico.    159. 

Saltmarsh.    52. 

Tapo,    138. 

Wheeler,    52. 
Hardison,    Stewart    &    McFarland. 
Harris    (C.C.)    Oil    Co.,    117,    118. 
Harrison   well,    178. 
Hart  &  Hayes  well,  258. 
Hartford    Oil    Co.,    87. 
Hartnell  tract  well,   360. 
Haslam  tract  well,   349. 
Hauser  tract  well,   232. 
Hawkswing   claim    well,    99. 
Headley  well,    198. 
Heath,    J.    W.,    well,    403. 
Hedley  &  Fullerton  well,   327. 
Henderson   Oil   Co.,    380. 
Henderson   Union    Oil    Co.,    51. 
Hickey   well,    501. 
Higgins    claim    wells,    96. 
Higgins,   P.   C,   wells,    403. 
Hill.    R.    W.,    well,    403. 
Hilside   Crude   Oil   Co.,    77. 
Hilltop   Oil  Co.,    77. 
Hill    tract   w-ells,    34  8. 
Hiss  tract  wells,   34  8. 
Hoag  &   Silent  well,   198. 
Hobson    tract    well,    28. 
Hobbs  tract  well,   359. 
Hogsback  claim  well,    99. 
Hogshead  claim  well,    99. 
Holden,  T.  D.,  well,  257. 
Holser  Caiion  wells,    135,    136. 
Home  Oil  Co.,  252. 
Hook.    T.    J.    well,    93. 
Hooper  Caiion  wells.  91,  117. 
Howard  Summit  wells,   332. 
Hunt  &  Bailey  tract  well,  251. 
Hutton  &  Co.   wells,    134. 


Ibex  Oil   Co..    118. 

Ideal    Oil    Co.,    383. 

Illinois  Oil   Co.,   257. 

Illinois  Oil  &  Asphalt  Co..   4  01. 

Income  Oil  Co.,  4  0. 

Industrial   Oil   Co.,    301. 

International   Oil   Co.,    276. 

Intervenor    claim    well,    101. 

lola  Oil  Co.,  178. 

Iowa  Oil  Co.,   308. 

Irelan   claim   well,    96. 

Irwin   claim   well,    102. 

Ivy    station    well,    233. 

Jalama  Oil  &  Devt.   Co.,   344. 
Joe  Gilbert  claim  well,  92. 
John   Irwin   Oil   Co.,   124. 
Johnson    well    19  8,    332. 
Joseph    claim    wells,    103. 
Joyce,    T.    R.   wells,    232. 
Joyce,   Thos.,   well,   254. 
Joyce.   E.   F.,   wells,    258. 
Junction    claim    wells,    99. 

Kaiser    tract    wells,    359. 
Kansas    Crude    Oil    Co.,    234. 
Keating  tract  wells,   233. 
Kellerman   Oil   Co.,    336. 
Kentuck   claim   wells,    100. 
Kenyon  claim  well,  99. 
Kern  Trading  &  Oil  Co.,  342. 
Kernal   Oil   Co.,    390. 

Laguna  Beach  Oil  Co..  337. 
Laguna   Land   Co.   well,    342. 
Laguna    Oil    Co.,     357. 
La  Habra  Oil  Co.,  259. 
Lancaster    wells,    326. 
Langdell,   Newark  &  Rowan  wells, 
Lapp,  Gifford  Co.,  wells,  125. 
Las    Cruces   Oil    Co..    344. 
Las  Flores  Land  and  Oil  Co.,   365. 
Leaming    Caiion    wells,    170,    181. 
Leckler  Canon  wells,  136,   158. 
Leffingwell  tract  well,   274. 
Lewis  &  Jones  Oil  Co.,   85. 
Lewis    tract    wells,    386. 
Liberty  Oil  Co.,   35.  45. 
Lighthouse    Oil    Co.,    329. 

Limits,    Salt    Lake   oil   field,    226. 

Little    Moore    Caiion    wells,    166. 

Little  Sespe  wells,   95. 

Logs.   Pico  wells,    159. 

Loma  Oil  Co.,   88. 

Lombard  &  Lockhart  wells,    229. 

Lombart    tract    wells,    230. 

Lompoc    Oil    Development    Co.,    349 

Lompoc    wells,    345. 

Lookout    Mountain    well,    330. 

London   Petroleum   Co.,    172. 

Long  Beach  wells.   329. 

Los   Alamos   Oil   &   Devt.   Co.,    34  8. 


426 


Los   Alamos   Petroleum   Co.,    383. 

Los  Angeles  City  oil  field  5,   195. 

Los   Angeles   claim    wells,    100. 

Los   Angeles   County   wells,    156,    326. 

Los  Angeles  &  Kern  Oil  Mining  Co.,   177. 

Los  Angeles  Oil  Co.,   100,   103. 

Los  Angeles  Pacific  Ry.  Co.,  222. 

Los  Llajas  Canon  wells,   142. 

Lower   Ojai,    see  Ojai. 

Lubricants,  estimation  of,   16,   18. 

Lucas   tract  well,    359. 

Lucerne   Oil    Co.,    357. 

Lyon   Canon  wells,    27,    40. 

Lysle  tract  well,    126. 

Maier  &  Zobelein  wells,  331. 

Manhattan    Beach    wells,    327. 

Manser   tract  well,   335. 

Mansfield   tract   well,    232. 

Maple  Creek  claim  well,  99. 

Mass'alin    tract    well,    231. 

McCray   Bros.    Oil   Co.,    138,    141,    254. 

McDor    Oil    Co.,    225. 

McGuire    tract   wells,    139. 

Mcintosh    wells,    330,    332. 

Mclntyre    tract    well,    93. 

McMillan,   W.   J.,   well,    40. 

Menges  Oil  Co.,   297. 

Menlo  claim   well,    159. 

Mentey  well,  176., 

Merchants  Oil   Co.,    382. 

Merchants  &  Traders  Oil  Co.,   126. 

Meridian    Oil    Co.,    367. 

Mesa    Development    Co.,    401. 

Mescalitan  Island  Oil  &  Devt.   Co.,   401. 

Menges   Oil   Co.,    285. 

Methods  of  analysis,  see  Analysis. 

Micaela    Oil    Co.,    344. 

Midway   Petroleum   Co.,    53,   54. 

Midway   Provident   Oil   Co.,    57. 

Minnesota    claim    wells,    125. 

Modelo   Oil   Co.,    133. 

Mojave    well,    327. 

Monarch   Oil    Co.,    103. 

Montana  Oil   Co.,    103. 

Montebello  Oil   Co.,   126. 

Montecito  well,    4  01. 

Monterey   Park   Land   Co.   wells,    333. 

Montezuma    Oil    Co.,    179. 

Morningside    Oil    Co.,    286. 

Morning  Star  Oil  Co.,  286. 

Moore   Ranch,    398. 

Mud   Springs   Canon   wells,    170,    174,    181 

Mulholland  Oil  Co.,  342. 

Mupu    Oil    Co.,    88. 

Murphy  Oil  Co.,  Whittier,   256. 

Murphy   Oil  Co.,   Coyote,   275. 

Muscio   tract  wells,    343,    391. 

Mutual  Oil  Co.,   102,   256. 

Naples   wells,    397. 

Neptune   claim  wells,    103. 

Nettleton  &  Kellerman  Oil  Co.,  136,  175. 

New  Castaic   Oil  Co.,    15  8. 


New   Century    Oil    Co.,    178. 

New   England   Oil   Co.,    258. 

Newhall  Canon  wells,   170,   181. 

Newhall  Canon  Wells,   170,  181. 

Newhall  Cons.  Oil  Co.,  179. 

Newhall  Land  &  Farming  Co.,   139. 

Newhall    Mountain    Oil    Co.,    169. 

Newhall  oil  field  6,    156. 

Newhall   Petroleum   Co.,    171. 

Newhall,    recapitulation,    181. 

Newhall  tract  wells,   365. 

Newlove   Oil   Co.,    360. 

Newmark  &  Edwards  tract  wells,  234. 

New  Mexico  Devt.  Co.  well,  230. 

New   Moody   Gulch   Oil   Co.,    101. 

New   Penn    Petroleum   Co.,    Fugler,    381. 

Kaiser,  357. 

Wiley.  357. 
Newport  Bay  Oil  Co..  335. 
Newport  Bay  wells,  335. 
Newport  Oil  Co.,   336. 
New  San  Pedro  Oil  Co.,   329. 
New  Weldon  Oil  Co.,  see  Weldon. 
Nicholson  well,    382. 
Nichols  tract  well,  346. 
Niles  Lease   Oil   Co.,    2  24. 
Nogales  claim  well,    101. 
Northern  Cons.  Oil  Co.,  403. 
North  of  Tar  Creek  Oil  Co.,   101. 
Northwest    Oil    Co.,    234. 
North  Whittier  Oil  Co.,   250. 
Nott  &  Webber  well,   402. 
Nuevo  Camulos  Oil  Co.,  136. 


Oak  Ridge,  123. 

Oak  Ridge   Oil   Co.,    125. 

Occidental  Mining  &  Petr.   Co.,    407. 

Ocean    Front   Oil    Co.,    401. 

Ocean   wells,    409. 

O'Hara,  Edward,  Wells,  85. 

Oil  analysis,  see  Analysis. 

Oil  Creek  Cons.   Oil  Co.,   102. 

Oil  Creek  Oil  Co.,   103. 

Oil   Developments,    Southern   California,   4. 

Oil   Fields   Syndicate,    343. 

Oil  King  Co.,    117. 

Oil  Spouter  claim,  wells,   102. 

Ojai    Oil    Co.,    40,    43,    44. 

Ojai  valley,   25. 

Ojai  Valley  Petroleum  Co.,  42. 

Ojai  wells,    21,   41." 

Okell  &  Barber  well,   331. 

OKell   Core   Drill   Co.   well,    334. 

Old  Field,   see  Central  field. 

Old  Field,  see,  also,  Santa  Maria. 

Old  Mission  Oil  Co.,  385,  386. 

Olga  Ventura  Oil  Co.,   40. 

Olinda,  see  Fullerton. 

Olinda  Crude  Oil  Co..   307. 

Olinda   Land  Co.,    307. 

Olinda  wells,    294,    299. 

Oldstead  wells,   51. 

Omega  tract  wells,   124,  125. 

Operating  conditions  Cat  Canon,  387. 


i 


427 


Orange  County  Oil  Co.,  334. 

Orange  County  wells,   326,   334. 

Orange  Oil  Co.,   296. 

Orcut   Oil   Co.,    347. 

Oregon  Oil  Co.,   331. 

Oro  Water,  Light  &  Power  Co.  well,   359. 

Ortega  Hill  wells,  408,  410. 

Pacific   Coast   Oil    Co.,    159. 

Pacific  Gasoline  Co.,    298. 

Pacific  King  Oil  Co.,  179. 

Pacific  Light  &  Power  Co.  wells,  222. 

Pacific  Petroleum  Co.,   233. 

Pacific  Oil  Fields,  Ltd.,   347. 

Pacific   Oil   Transportation   Co.,    365. 

Pacoima  Caiion  wells,   179. 

Pacoima  Oil  Co.,   177. 

Padua  Oil  Co.,  176. 

Palmer  Annex  Oil  Co.,   383,   384. 

Palmer  Junior  Oil  Co.,   385. 

Palmer  Union  Oil  Co.,  Blochman,  385. 

Stendell,   380. 
Palomas  Caiion  well,   15  8. 
Palo   Sale  Oil   Co.,    252. 
Paula    Oil    Co.,    85. 
Paxton  Gold  Bond  Oil  Co.,  87. 
Placerita  Caiion  wells,   177,   182. 
Pearl   Oil   Co.,    170. 
Perkins  well,    332. 
Peter  Patterson  Oil  Co..   125. 
Petroleum  Devt.,   Co.,   303. 
Pezzoni  tract  well,  343. 
Philadelphia-California    Petr.    Co.,    2  8,    34, 

79. 
Pickering  Land  &  Water  Co.   well,   252. 
Pico  Caiion  wells,  159,  181. 
Pico  wells,  tabular  list,   160. 
Pico   Oil   Co.,    230,    296. 
Pierson  Hotel  well,   328. 
Pinal  Oil  Co.,  Fleisher,  381. 

Santa    Maria,    350. 
Pine    Mountain   well,    93. 
Pioneer  White  Oil  Co.,   178. 
Pirie  wells,   21.   27.  28. 
Piru  O.l  &  Land  Co.,   135. 
Piru  Monarch  Oil  Co.,   136. 
Pitcher   &   Garbutt    Oil    Co.,    231. 
Pittsburg  Petroleum  Co.,  142. 
Point  Fermin  well,   329. 
Pole   Caiion  well,    103. 
Polhemus   well,    331. 
Port  Orange  Asphalt  Co.,  336. 
Portland  Oil  Co.,    179. 
Primavera  Oil   Co.,    343. 
Princess  Oil  Co.,   Tunnel,    390. 
Princess  Oil  Co.,  Muscio,   343. 
Production,  Tar  Creek  wells,  98. 

Ventura   County,    135. 

East  Field    (L.   A.),   200. 

Central  Field   (L.  A.),   203. 

West  Field    (L.  A.),   205. 

Salt   Lake   wells,    228. 

Puente  wells,  284. 

Lompoc   wells,    350. 

Santa  Marua  wells,   366. 


Proudfit  &  Parker  well,  177. 
Puente  Crude  Oil  Co.,   300. 
Puente   Hills  wells,   247,   280. 
Puente  Oil  Co.,  Olinda,  306. 

Puente,    280. 

Rapetto,   333. 
Pumping  heavy  oil,    221. 
Pure  Oil  Co.,   88. 
Purisima  wells,    347. 
Purisima  Hills  Oil  Co.,   349. 
Puritan  Oil  Co.,   35,   45. 
Pyramid   Oil   Co.,    76. 

Quality  Bardsdale  oil,   127. 
Cat  Caiion  oil,   391. 
Ex-Mission  oil,   57. 
Fullerton  oil,   308. 
Hopper  Caiion  oil,   119. 
Los  Angeles  City  oil,  206. 
Newhall    oil,    182. 
Ojai  oil,   46. 
Piru  Canon  oil,   142. 
Puente  oil,  287. 
Salt  Lake  oil,  234. 
Santa  Maria  oil,  367. 
Sespe    oil,    104. 
Silverthread  oil.   80. 
Summerland   oil,    413. 
Whittier  oil,   261. 

Radium   Oil    Co.,    358. 

Rahn   Cons.    Oil   Co.,    403. 

Ramona   Home   Oil   Co.,    136. 

Ramona  Oil  Co.,   136. 

Ramera   Oil    Co.,    327. 

Rapid    Transit   well,    198. 

Rapetto    Hills    wells,    333. 

Raymond  Oil  Co.,   257. 

Razzle    Dazzle    claim   well,    102. 

Rancho   Canada  Miguelito  well,   27. 

Rancho  Canada  Larga  wells,  34. 

Rancho  Guadalupe  wells,  342. 

Rancho  Jesus  Maria  wells,   346. 

Rancho  Lompoc  wells,  34  8. 

Rancho   La   Brea   Oil   Co.,    217. 

Rancho  Los  Palos  Verdes  wells,   327. 

Rancho  Niguel  wells,  337. 

Rancho    Purisima   wells,    345. 

Rancho  Ojai  wells,  27,  34. 

Rancho  Punta  Lagima  wells,   365. 

Rancho   Rodeo   Aguas  wells,    233. 

Rancho  San  Carlos  Jonata  wells,  344. 

Rancho  San  Joaquin  wells,  335. 

Rancho  Todos   Santos  wells,    365. 

Red  Rock  Oil   Co.,    52. 

Redondo  wells,  327. 

Rees  well,   198. 

Refining  &  Producing  Oil  Co.,  361. 

Rhodes  wells,    218. 

Rice   Canon   Oil   Co.,    169. 

Rice  Ranch  Oil  Co.,   358,   383. 

Rice   well,    181. 

Rimpau  tract  well,   232. 

Rinaldl  tract  well,  176. 

Rincon   creek  wells,   406. 


428 


Rincon  Oil   Co.,   406. 

Robertson  tract  wells,  124. 

Rob  Roy  Oil  Co.,   307. 

Rodeo  Land  &  Water  Co.,   225,   233. 

Rodeo  Oil  Co.,  230. 

Rommel  Oil  Co.,  232. 

Rose  Oil  Co.,   102,   158. 

Rosedale    Cemetery    wells,    232. 

Rosemary   well,    2  31. 

Rosencranz  wells,  332. 

Rowland  tract  wells,    283. 

Russian   Oil   Co.,    180. 

Tlutherford  ranch  wells,   3!)7,   399. 

Safe    Oil   Co.,    171. 

Salt  Lake  Oil  Co.,   219.  223. 

Salt  Lake  wells,    5,   196,    216. 

Saltmarsh  Caiion  Oil  Co.,  52. 

Sampson  claim  wells,  101. 

Sansinenta   tract  wells,    299. 

Sapphire   Oil   Co.,    399. 

Savage   tract  well,    255. 

San  Bernardino  well,  Newhall,  178. 

San  Bernardino  County  wells,  326,  337. 

San  Cayetano  Oil  Co.,   117. 

San  Juan  Capistrano  well,   387. 

San  Juan  well,  276. 

San  Lucas  Oil  Co.,   344. 

San  Miguel  Oil  &  Devt.  Co.,  178. 

San    Pedro    Oil    Co.,    32  8. 

Santa  Ana  Oil  Co.,   136,   172,   176,   336. 

Santa  Barbara,  Cal.,  Oil  Co.,   344. 

Santa  Barbara  Coast  wells,  396. 

Santa  Barbara  County  wells,  339. 

Santa  Barbara  &  Naples  Oil  &  Land  Co. 

399. 
Santa  Barbara  Oil  Co.,   4  07. 
Santa  Barbara  Oil  &  Mining  Co.,  358. 
Santa  Clara  Oil  &  Devt.   Co.,   88. 
Santa  Fe  claim  well,   101. 
Santa  Maria  Central  Oil  Co.,  358. 
Santa  Maria  Crude  Oil  Co.,   44,  46,   358. 
Santa  Maria  Enterprise  Oil  Co.,   380. 
Santa  Maria  Midway  Oil  Co.,  390. 
Santa  Maria  Oil  Fields,   Ltd.,   384. 
Santa  Maria  Oil  &  Gas  Co.,  360. 
Santa  Maria  Petr.  &  Pipe  Line  Co.,  380. 
Santa  Maria  wells,  352. 
Santa  Monica  Oil  Co.,  407. 
Santa  Paula  Gravity  Oil  Co.,   88. 
Santa  Paula  Home  Oil  Co.,  125. 
Santa  Paula  Oil  Co.,  41. 
Santa  Susuana  wells,  124,  125. 
Santa  Ynez  foothill  wells,  344. 
Santa  Ynez  wells,  343. 
Scarab  Oil  Co.,   141. 
Schuyler  Ranch  well,  334. 
Scott  &  Gilmore  wells,  56. 
Scott  &  Loftus  wells,    198. 
Scott  tunnel,   34. 
Scott  (W.B.)  Oil  Co.,  286. 
Seaboard  Cons.    Oil   Co.,    400. 
Searchlight  Oil  Co.,    93. 
Seepages  at  Carpinteria,   398. 


Seepages  at  Naples,   397. 
Sentinel  Oil  Co.,   257. 
Sespe  Canon  Oil  Co.,   92. 
Sespe  Canon   wells,    91. 
Sespe  Crude  Oil  Co.,   92. 
Sexton  Caiion  wells,  57. 
Shafer  Oil  Co.,  276. 
Shenandoah  claim  well,   101. 
Sherman   Oil   Co.,    225. 
Sherman  wells,  see  Salt  Lake. 
Shiells  tract  wells,    126. 
Sickelworth   ranch  well,    334. 
Sidehill  claim  well,  99. 
Silverthread  wells,   50. 
Simi   Oil   Co.,    142. 
Simi  Ranch  wells,   159. 
Sisar  Oil  &  Asphalt  Co.,  79. 
Sisar    wells,    74. 
Sisquoc  Oil  Co.,  379. 
Sisters'  Hospital  wells,   331. 
Skimming  wet  wells,   363. 
Skookum  Oil  Co.,    103. 
Slocum    Bros,    wells,    56. 
Slocum   &  Co.,    134. 
Sobra  Vista  Oil   Co.,    41. 
Soquel  Canon  Oil  Co.,  307. 
Southern  Pacific  wells,  402. 
Southland  Oil   Co.,    119.. 
South  Pacific   Oil   Co.,    137. 
Spring  Valley  claim  wells,  99. 
Squaw   flat   Oil   Co.,    101,    172. 
Squires   tract  wells,    360. 
Standard  Crude  Oil  Devt.   Co.,   257. 
Standard  Oil  Co.  Elsmere,  173. 
Standard  Oil  Co.,  Leffingwell,  274. 
Standard  Oil  Co.   Rapetto,   333. 
Standard  Oil  Co.   Rice,    169. 
Standard  Oil   Co.    Toler,    275. 
Standard  Oil  Co.   Wiley,   169. 
Standard  Oil  Co.,   Yriarte,   277. 
Standard  Oil  Co.  Pico,  159. 
Star  Oil   claim,  wells,    100. 
Statistics,   Salt  Lake  wells,  227. 
Statistics,  Summerland  wells,  411. 
St.  Bernard  Oil  Co.,  168. 
Stearns  tract  wells,   299. 
Steele  &  Thompson  well,  400. 
Stendell  tract  wells,    380. 
St.   Louis  Oil  Co.,   119. 
Stockholders  Oil  Co.,   101. 
Strong  tract  wells,    254. 
Structure,  Central  field,  202. 

Coast   Strip,   404. 

East  Field   (L.  A.),   199. 

Fullerton  field,   295. 

Puente   field,   280. 

Salt  Lake  field,  216. 

Santa  Maria  field,   353. 

Silverthread   group,    79. 

West  Field    (L.  A.),   204. 

Whittier  field,   248. 
Sudden  Oil  Co.,   346. 
Sulfur  determination  method,   14. 


429 


Sulfur  in  Cat  Canon  oil,  391. 

L.OS  Angeles  oil,  5. 

Salt  Lake  oil,  5. 

Santa  Maria  oil,  7. 

Whittier  oil,    6. 
Sulphur  Mountain  Petr.  Co.,  34. 
Sulphur  Mountain  wells,   21. 
Summary,  Ventura  County,  153. 
Summerland  wells  6,  4  08. 
Summit   Oil   Co.,    382. 
Sunset  claim  wells,    101. 
Sunset  Oil  Co.,   117. 
Swall   tract  well.    225. 
Swastika  Oil   Syndicate,    327. 
Sycamore  Canon  Oil  Co.,  407. 
Syndicate  Petroleum  Co.,   299,   342. 

Tapo  wells,    133. 

Tapo  Canon  wells,    138. 

Tapo  Oil  Co.,    119.    141. 

Tar  Creek  wells,   95,   98. 

Tar  Flat  wells,    54. 

Tar  Hole  claim  wells,   92. 

Taylor  wells,   28. 

Temescal  Ranch  wells,  133  to  136. 

Temperature  corrections,   13. 

Temple  claim  wells,  167. 

Thanksgiving   Oil    Co.,    51. 

The  Oil  Co.,   342. 

Thirty  Six  claim,  wells,   92. 

Thomas,  H.  C,  well,  232. 

Thompson   tract  wells,   41. 

Thompson   Bros,   well,    331. 

Tidewater  Oil  Co..   336. 

Tognazinni   tract  well,    391. 

Toler  tract  well,  95. 

Torrey  wells,  133,  140. 

Tower  tract  wells,   78. 

Towns  well.   337. 

Towsley  Canon  welLs.    167,   181. 

Tuwsley  Canon  Oil  Co.,   168. 

Traders   Union    Oil   Co.,    342. 

Treadwell,   J.   B.,  well,   402. 

Treasure  Realty   Co.   wells,    356. 

Tubbs  &  Evans  well,   254. 

Tujunga  wells,    179,    182. 

Tujunga  Oil  Co.,    ISO. 

Tunnel,   Garrett,   52. 

Tunnel,  oil,   34. 

Tunnel  oil,  character  of,  -52. 

Tunnel,  Wheeler,   Trask  &  Coleman,    52. 

Tunnel  tract  well,    390. 

Turner  Oil   Co.,    253. 

Twilight  claim  well.  96. 

Udall  claim  wells.    102. 

Uncle   John    Oil    Co.,    57. 

Underbill   tract  wells,    34  3. 

Union  Beet  Sugar  Co.  wells,  34  2. 

Union  Cons.  Oil  Co.,  92,  104. 

Union  Oil  Co.  of  California,   51,  54,   12  3. 

Union  Oil  Co.,  Ahnlauf,   86. 

Alamo,  99. 

Arcadia,    96. 


Union   Oil  Co. — Continued. 

Arrellanes,    365. 

Bastanchury,   276. 

Bell,   386. 

Black  Jack,    9  6. 

Bookhout,   124. 

Bra  shear,  231. 

Bur.son,   126. 

Burton,    34  6. 

California   Coast,    360. 

Calleguas,  152. 

Carpenter,    96. 

Central,  99. 

Cesapi,   97. 

Chino,    338. 

Connection,   97. 

Dickerson,    141. 

Eefson,   347. 

Fairview,    119. 

Folsom,   360. 

Four  Oaks,    99. 

Fox,   359. 

Fryer,    141. 

Graham-Loftus,   277. 

Grimes,    124. 
Guiberson,    127. 

Hartnell,   360. 

Haslam,    349. 

Hawkswing,   99. 
Higgins,  96. 

Hill,    348.- 
Hobbs,   359. 

Hogsback,   99. 

Hogshead,  99. 

Irwin,    99,    102. 
Irelan,   96. 

Junction,   99. 
Kaiser,   357,   359. 
Kenyon,    99. 

Kentuck,    100. 
La   Habra,    259,    287. 
Los  Angeles   City,    331. 
j^os  Angeles  claim,  100. 
Maple   Creek,   99. 
Massalin,    231. 
Newlove,    360. 
Nichols,   34  6. 
No.   6  lease,   75. 
Pirie,    29. 
Purisima.   34  7. 
Robertson,   124. 
Saltmarsh,    53. 
San  Juan.  276. 
Sansinena.    299. 
Santa  Susana,   124. 
Sespe,   96.   100. 
Sidehill,  99. 
Silverthread,     7  6. 
Sisar,   75. 

Spring  Valley,    99. 
Squires,    360. 
Star   Oil,    100. 
Stearns.    299. 
Tapo,    138. 


430 


INDEX. 


Union  Oil  Co. — Continufd. 

Thirty-six,    1)2. 

Torrey,    14  0. 

Twilight,    96. 

Wildcat,    99. 

Whittier,    2  57. 
I'nitod  Oil  Co.,   119. 
United  Oil  &  Mining  Co.,  135. 
United  States  Hotel  well,   331. 
Upper  Ojai,  see  Ojai. 

Variel   tract   well,    232. 

Ventura,  California  Oil  Co.,  103. 

Ventura  claim  well,  87. 

Ventura   Coast    Oil   Co.,    138. 

Ventura  Cons.   Oil  Co.,    142. 

Ventura  County,   21. 

Ventura   Oil   Co.,    41. 

Ventura  Oil  Devt.  Co.,  137,  172. 

Ventura  Oil  &  Land  Co.,  see  Ventura  Oil 

Co. 
Ventura  Co.   Power  Co.  wells,   33. 
Ventura  Co.,    summary,    153. 
Viscosity  tests,  14. 
Volcano  Oil  Co.,    32  8. 

Wade,    F.    S.,    14. 
Warner  Oil  Co.,   255. 
Warring  Bros,  well,  138. 
Washington   Oil   Co.,    167. 
W.   B.   Scott  Oil  Co.,   2  86. 
Webb  tract  well,   93. 
Webfoot   Oil    Syndicate,    103. 
Weisendanger  wells,   399. 
^Veldon  Oil  Co.,   34. 
Weldon   tract  well,    176. 
Well  records,   Puente,   280. 
Wells  on   South  Slope,   176. 
Wells  South  of  Los  Angeles,  331. 
Wells  North  of  Los  Angeles,   229. 
Wells  West  of  Ventura  River,   26. 
Wells  in  Ventura  River  valley,  33. 
Wells,  Ventura  County,    155. 
West  Coast  Oil  Co.,   233,  255. 
Western    Avenue   wells,    205. 
Western   Coast   Oil   Co.,    26. 


Western   Union    Oil    Co.,    362. 
West   Field    (L.   A.),    203. 
West   Huasna  Oil  Co.,    125,    366. 
West  Lake  Rommel  Oil  Co.,  76. 
West  Oil  Co.,    381. 
Westside  claim  well,   102. 
Wharf  wells,   409. 
Wheeler   Canon  wells,    51. 
Wheeler,  Trask  &  Coleman  tunnel,  I 
Whidden   Double  Oil  Co.,    41. 
Whitelaw  Oil  Co.,  141. 
White    Star   Oil   Co.,    102. 
Whiting  well,    334. 
Whittier   Con-s.    Oil    Co.,    250. 
Whittier   Crude   Oil   Co.,    253. 
Whittier    Des   Moines    Oil    Co.,    276. 
Whittier  Fillmore  Oil  Co.,   104,   253. 
Whittier  Grande  Oil  Co.,   257. 
Whittier  Oil  &  Devt.,  Co.,   25  8. 
Whittier  wells  5,   248. 
Whittier   Oil   Co.,    254. 
Whittier   Producers   Oil   Co.,    258. 
Whittier,   recapitulation,    259. 
Whitworth  tract  wells,  229,  230. 
Wicks  well,    229. 
Wild  Bill  well,  55. 
Wildcat  claim  wells,   99,   102. 
Wiley  Cailon  wells,   168,   181. 
Wiley   tract  well,    357. 
Wilkinson    well,    19  8. 
Williams    well,    408. 
Williams  tract  well,   381. 
Wilmot  &  Holden  well,  331. 
Wilshire  Boulevard  wells,   22  8. 
Wilson   tract  wells,    119. 
Wickenden  tract  well,    343. 
Wise   &   Denigan   wells,    347. 
Wolfskin   tract  wells,    233. 
Wood  well,   125. 
Woods  well,   87. 


Yankee  Doodle   Oil  Co.,    176. 
Yriarte  tract  well,  277. 


Zaca  station  well,  345. 
Zenith   Oil   Co.,    171. 


PUBLICATIONS  Or  THE  CALIfORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU. 


REPORTS. 

Asterisk  (*)  indicates  the  publication  is  out  of  iirint. 
*  Report        I.     Henry  G.   Hanks.     1880. 
^Report       II.     Henry  G.  Hanks.     188-2. 
•^Report     III.     Henry  G.   Hanks.     1883. 
^Report     rV'.     Henry  G.  Hanks.     1884. 
^Report       V.     Henry  G.   Hanks.     18a5. 
»Report       ^^— Part  1.     Henry  G.  Hanks.    1886. 
•Report       VI— Part  2.     Wm.  Irelan,  Jr.    1883. 
'Report    VII.    TVm.  Irelan,  Jr.     1887. 
^ReportVIII.    Wm.  Irelan,  Jr.     1888. 
*Report     IX.     Wm.  Irelan,  Jr.     1889. 
*Report       X.    Wm.  Irelan,  Jr.     1890. 

Price.   Postage. 

Report     XI.    Wm.   Irelan,   Jr.     1S<>2.     (First  biennial.) $1.00       .S.15 

»Report   XII.    J.  J.  Crawford.       1814.     (Second  biennial.) 

•Report  XIII.    J.  J.   Crawford.     18»J.     (Third  biennial.) 1.00         .20 

BULLETINS. 

Price.   Post.-ige. 

♦Bulletin    1.     Dessieated   Human   Remains.— Winslow   Anderson.    1888 

•Bulletin    2.     Methods  of  Mine  Timbering.— W.   H.  .Storms.     1894 

♦Bulletin    3.    Gas    and   Petroleum    Yielding   Formations    of   the   Central  Valley   of 

California.— W.   L.   Watts.     1894 . 

♦Bulletin    4.    Catalogue  of  California  Fossils  (Parts  2,  3,  4  and  5.)— J.  G.  Cooper. 

18&4  .... 

^Bulletin    5.    The    Cyanide    Process:    Its    Practical    Application    and    Economical 

Results.— A.   Scheidel.     1894 . .... 

Bulletin    6.     California  Gold  Mill  Practices.     E.  B.   Preston.     1895 S..50       $.04 

♦Bulletin    7.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Coimties,  1894.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   

♦Bulletin    8.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1895.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   

Bulletin    9.    Mine  Drainage,    Pumps,   etc.— Hans   C    Behr.     1896 .60  .OS 

♦Bulletin  10.    A  Bibliography  Relating  to  the  Geology,  Palaeontology,   and  Mineral 

Resources  of   California.— A.   W.   Vodges.     1896 

*Bulletin  11.    Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  Los  Angeles,  Ventura,  and    Santa 

Barbara  Counties.— W.   L.   Watts.     1896 

♦Bulletin  12.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1896.— Chas.  G.  Tale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   

♦Bulletin  13.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Coimties,  1897. — Chas.  G.  Tale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   

♦Bulletin  14.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1898.— Chas.  G.  Tale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   . 

Bulletin  15.    Map  of  Oil  City  Oil  Fields,  Fresno  County.— J.  H.  Means .05         .02 

♦Bulletin  16.    The    Genesis    of    Petroleum    and    Asphaltum    in    California.- A.    S. 

Cooper.     1899 

♦BiUletin  17.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Coimties,  1899.— Chas.  G.  Tale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   

♦BuUetin  18.    The  Mother  Lode  Region  of  California.— W.  H.  Storms.    1900 

♦Bulletin  19.    Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  California.— W.  L.  Watts,    1900.    

♦Bulletin  20.    Synopsis  of  Reports  of  State  Mining  Bureau.— W.  L.  Watts.    1900—. 
♦Bulletin  21.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1900.— Chas.  G.  Tale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   

♦Bulletin  22.    Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Fourteen  Tears.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

1900.  (Tabulated  .^heet) 

Bulletin.         Reconnaissance    of    the    Colorado    Desert    Mining    District.— Stephen 

Bowers.     1901  .0-2 

Bulletin  23.    The  Copper  Resources  of  California.— P.  C.  DuBois,  F.  M.  Anderson, 

J.  H.  Tibbits,  and  G.  A.  Tweedy.    1902 .50         .12 

♦Bulletin  24.    The  Saline  Deposits  of  California.— G.  E.  Bailey.     1902 

♦BuDetin  25.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1901.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   

•Bulletin  26.    Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Fifteen  Tears.— Chas.  G.  Tale. 

1901.  (Tabulated  sheet) 

Bulletin  27.    The  Quicksilver  Resources  of  California.- Wm.  Forstner.    1903 .75         .14 

•Bulletin  28.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1902.— Chas.  G.  Tale. 
(Tabulated  sheet)   .- ... 


PUBLICATIONS    OF    THE    CALIFORNIA    STATE     MINING     BUREAU— Continued. 

Asterisk  (•)   indicates  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price.  Postage. 
•Bulletin  29.    Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Sixteen  Years.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

1902.  (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  30.    A  Bibliography  of  Geology,  Palaeontology,  and  Mineral  Resources  of 

California.— A.    W.    Vodges.     1903 

Bulletin  31.    Chemical   Analyses   of   California   Petroleum.— H.   N.    Cooper.     1903. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   $.02 

Bulletin  32.    Production  and  Use  of  Petroleum  in  California.— P.   W.   Prutzman. 

1904    $.25         .08 

•Bulletin  33.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1903.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)  

♦Bulletin  34.    Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Seventeen  Years.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

1903.  (Tabulated  sheet)— 

♦Bullefin  35.    Mines    and   Minerals   of   California   for  1903.— Chas.    G.    Yale.     1904. 

(Statistical)  

♦Bulletin  36.    Gold  Dredging  in  California.— J.  E.  Doolittle.     1905 -. 

Bulletin  37.    Gems,    Jewelers'   Materials,    and  Ornamental   Stones  of   California.— 
George  P.   Kunz.     1905: 

First  edition  (without  colored  plates)... 25         .08 

Second  edition  (with  colored  plates) -. 50         .08 

♦Bulletin  38.    The  Structural  and  Industrial  Materials  of  Cahfornia.- Wm.  Forstner, 

T.   C.  Hopkins,   C.  Naramore,   L.  H.  Eddy.     1906. 

♦Bulletin  39.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1904.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

(Tabulated  sheet)  

♦Bulletin  40.    Mineral  Production  of  Cahfornia  for  Eighteen  Years.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

1904.  (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  41.    Mines  and  Minerals  of  California  for  1904.— Chas.  G.  Yale.    (Statis- 
tical)     

♦Bulletin  42.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1905.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

(Tabulated  sheet) - 

♦Bulletin  43.    Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Nineteen  Years.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

1905.  (Tabulated  sheet) 

•Bulletin  44.    Mines  and  Minerals  of  California  for  1905.— Chas.  G.  Yale.     (Statis- 
tical)    — 

♦Bulletin  45.     Auriferous  Black  Sands  of  Cahfornia.— J.  A.   Edman.     1907 ..- 

Bulletin  46.    General  Index  to  Publications  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau.— Compiled 

by  Chas.  G.   Yale.     1907 30         .06 

♦Bulletin  47.    Mineral  Production  of  Cahfornia,  by  Counties,  1906.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

(Tabulated  sheet) — 

•BuUetin  48.    Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty  Years.— Chas.  G.  Yale. 

1906.  (Tabulated  sheet) --        

♦Bulletin  49.    Mines  and  Minerals  of  California  for  1906.— Chas.  G.  Yale.     (Statis- 
tical)  

Bulletin  50.    The     Copper    Resources     of     Cahfornia.- A.    Hausmann,    J.    Krutt- 

schnitt,  Jr.,  W.   E.  Thorne,  J.  A.  Edman.     1908 1.00         .20 

♦Bulletin  51.    Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1907.— D.  H.  Walker, 

Statistician.      (Tabulated    sheet) 

♦Bulletin  52.    Mineral    Production    of    California    for    Twenty-one    Years.— D.    H. 

Walker,    Statistician.     1907.     (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  53.     Mineral    Productions    of    California    for   1907,    with    County    Maps.— 

D.  H.  Walker,  Statistician.    1908.     (Statistical) .-       

♦Bulletin  54.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,   1908.— D.  H.  Walker, 

Statistician.     (Tabulated  sheet). — 

♦Bulletin  55.    Mineral    Production    of    California    for    Twenty-two    Years.— D.    H. 

Walker,    Statistician.     1908.     (Tabulated  sheet) J -.- 

♦Bulletin  56.    Mineral   Productions   for   1908,    County   Maps,    and   Mining   Laws   of 

California.— D.  H.  Walker.     1909.     (Statistical) 

Bulletin  57.    Gold  Dredging  in  California.— W.  B.  Winston,  Charles  Janin.    1910..    1.50         .15 
♦Bulletin  58.     Mineral  Production  of  Cahfornia,  by  Counties,  190O.— D.  H.  Walker, 

Statistician.     (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  59.    Mineral    Production    of    California    for    Twenty-three    Years.— D.    H. 

Walker,  Statistician.     1909.     (Tabulated  sheet) 

^Bulletin  60.    Mineral    Productions    for   1909,    County   Maps,    and   Mining   Laws   of 

Cahfornia.- D.   H.   Walker.     1910.     (Statistical).. .- .-- 

Bulletin  61.    Mineral    Production    of    California    by    Counties    for    1910.— D.    H. 

Walker,    Statistician.      (Tabulated   sheet) .02 

Bulletin  62.    Mineral    Production    of    California    for    Twenty-four    Years.— D.    H. 

Walker,    Statistician.     1910.     (Tabulated  sheet) .02 

Bulletin  63.    Petroleum   Development   in   Southern   California.— P.    W.    Prutzman. 

1912 — 

Bulletin  64.     Mineral  Production  for  1911.— E.   S.   Boalich,   Statistician,  1912 


PUBLICATIONS    OF    THE    CALIFORNIA    STATE     MINING     BU  REAU— Continued. 

Asterisk  (*)  indicates  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

REGISTERS    OF    MINES    WITH    MAPS. 

Price.  Postage. 

Amador  County - $.25       $.08 

Butte  County  — 25         .06 

•Calaveras   County   

♦El  Dorado  County - 

*Inyo  County . - — - - 

*Kern  County  — -- - - -    

Lake  County - - 25         .08 

Mariposa  County  -     .25         .08 

Nevada  County  .25         .08 

♦Placer  County - 

♦Plumas  County  

♦San  Bernardino  County - 

San  Diego  County - 25         .08 

Santa  Barbara  County _ - 25         .08 

♦Shasta    County - 

♦Sierra  County — — 

♦Siskiyou  County 

♦Trinity   County 

Tuolumne  County  25         .08 

Yuba   County  25         .08 

Register  of  Oil  Wells  (with  map),  Los  Angeles  City 35         .02 

OTHER    MAPS. 

California,  Showing  Mineral  Deposits- 
Mounted  - $1.50  $.20 

Unmounted  - .30  .15 

Forest  Reserves  in  California- 
Mounted  — -- 50  .08 

Unmounted  - 30  .06 

Mineral  and  Relief  Map  of  California 25  .06 

El  Dorado  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20  .02 

Madera  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20  .02 

Placer  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20  .02 

Shasta  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20  .02 

Sierra  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20  .02 

Siskiyou  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20  .02 

Trinity  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .45  .02 

Tuolumne  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20  .02 

Mother  Lode  Region- 05  .02 

Desert  Region  of  Southern  California - 10  .0"^ 

Minaret  District,  Madera  County .20  .02 

Copper  Deposits  in  California .10  .02 


THIS    BOOK    IS    DUE   ON    THE    LAST    DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN  THIS  BOOK 
ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY  WILL  INCREASE  TO 
50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH  DAY  AND  TO  $1.00  ON  THE 
SEVENTH  DAY  OVERDUE. 


minesu 


PHYSICAL 
SCIENCES 
LiBRARY 


S/xT    GlUo 


JSBItiVERSITV  CU    L/uaFORNl* 


LIBHAKV 
'Y   01'   C. 
PAVIS 

122359 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 


3  1175  02235  5310 


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VENTURA- NEWHALL 
OIL  DISTRICT 

LOS  ANGELES  ""  VENTURA  COUNTIES 


MAP  OF 

SANTA  BARBARA  COUNTY 

CALIFORNIA 

DRAV>/N    FOR 

CALIFORNIA  STATE   MINING  BUREAU 

WH-3TORMS    -   State  Mineralogist 


W^ORfUTT 


R^  5i3QU0C 


R^  5AN  CARLOS ^^  JO miA 


SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA 


WITHIN    THE    BOUNDS   OF  THE    PRODUCING    OIL    FIELDS    - 
VENTURA,   WHITTIER-OLINDA,  LOS   ANSELES   AND    SALT   LAKE,    ONLY 
A   PORTION   OF  THE   WELLS    ARE    SHOWN-      CONSULT    LARGE    SCALE 
MAPS     FOR    DETAILS-       OUTSIDE  THESE    BOUNDS,  ALL    KNOWN    WELLS 
ARE     LOCATED    AND     NAMED- 

'  0=0=0 — 

DRAWN     FOR 

CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 

W-H-STORMS  ~    State  MmeraLoqist 


PAUL  W-   PRUTZMAN 

LEGEND 

PRODUCING   WELLS     -  

ABANDONED       "         - 

DRILLING 

RAILROADS  l^- .-  —    -.    —   —   —   —= 
WAGON    ROADS~»»^-»*-— »-" 
Corrected  to   Juns-iaiE 


I152T 


PAULW  PRUTZr 


